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5.4 Recent status and development for energy
conservation
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(1) Background |
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| At the Third Conference of the Parties to
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(COP3), held in Kyoto in December 1997, an
agreement was reached on greenhouse gas emissions
reduction targets for developed countries.
As part of this agreement, Japan pledged
a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
from the 1990 level (U.S.A. 7% reduction
and EU 8% reduction), to be achieved in terms
of the average annual value for the 2008-2012
period. Japan's target for energy-related
carbon dioxide emissions, which account for
about 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions,
is the achievement of stabilization at the
FY 1990 level by FY 2010. On the heels of COP3, the current Long-term Energy Supply-Demand Outlook was revised in June 1998. The main points of this document are as follows:
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(2) Recent status Since the revision of the current Long-term Energy Supply-Demand Outlook, large changes have occurred on the energy supply-demand side as discussed below. |
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| Economic stagnation Amid a deepening economic recession, annual energy consumption fell in FY 1998 for the first time in 16 years mostly due to a substantial fall in energy consumption in the industrial sector, with the previous negative growth traced back to the aftermath of the second oil crisis. |
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Energy Conservation Despite the economic recession mentioned above, energy demand in the residential & commercial and transportation sectors kept growing rapidly. Besides, it is expected that energy conservation in the industrial sector will fall short of expectations in the future because of a slow down of capital investment in energy-conserving facilities. |
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| Nuclear power At present, four nuclear power plants are under construction, and two more have submitted to the Electric Power Development Coordination Council for deliberation since last year. Despite progress with these projects, however, there have been a few setbacks, including last year's criticality accident at a nuclear fuel processing facility, which has deeply shaken public confidence in nuclear power. Although nuclear safety and disaster control measures have been tightened, delays in introduction of nuclear power plants seem unavoidable. (According to the Electricity Supply Plan released on March 31 this year, the plan for introducing nuclear power plants by FY 2010 was revised, with the number of nuclear power plants to be built by FY 2010 reduced from 20 to 13.) |
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New and renewable energy There are growing expectations about the greater use of new and renewable energy sources against a background of rising public interest in environmental issues. Although some progress has been made, meeting the target set for FY 2010 will require substantial efforts due to constraints such as high costs and unsteady power output characteristics. |
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International energy situation centering on oil The dependence of Japan's oil imports on the Middle East has risen (86% in FY 1998), giving rise to concern over energy security in the light of factors such as growth of oil demand in other parts of Asia, the recent rise in crude oil prices and the lapse of Arabian Oil Co., Ltd.'s oil concessions in Saudi Arabia. |
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(3) Direction of future policy |
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| If Japan maintain these current policy frameworks
of energy supply and demand, 20 million ton-c
of carbon emission from energy origin expect
to increase in 2010 FY compare with 1990FY
level. The fundamental goal of energy policy
- ensuring stable energy supply while meeting
environmental conservation and economic efficiency
- remains unchanged. Following three policies
are applicable to achieve this goal; - Further promotion of energy efficiency and conservation (7 million kL / 6 million ton -C) - Further promotion of new and renewable energy (19.1 million kL / 9 million ton -C) - Fuel switching (5 million ton - C) |
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Outline of energy efficiency and conservation measures and effects |
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| Energy conservation effect: 20.5 million
kL Share of existing measures: 20.1 million kL - Voluntary action program for environment of Keidanren, Japan Federation of Economic Organization - Regulatory control under Energy Conservation Law Share of new additional measures: 0.4 million kL - Introduction of high-performance industrial furnaces for small and medium companies |
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| Energy conservation effect : 18.6 million
kL Share of existing measures: 14 million kL - Improvement of equipment efficiency through Top-Runner Program: 5.4 million kL - Improvement of energy conservation performance of houses and buildings: 8.6 million kL Share of new additional measures: 4.6 million kL - Widening of equipment subject to Top-Runner Program: 1.2 million kL - Accelerated introduction of high efficiency equipment: 0.5 million kL - Reduction of standby power consumption: 0.4 million kL - Introduction of residential energy management systems : 0.9 million kL - Introduction of commercial energy management systems: 1.6 million kL Note: Of this, 1 million kL is to be achieved through utilization of ESCOs. |
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| Energy conservation effects : 16.9 million
kL Share of existing measures : 15.9 million kL - Improving of equipment efficiency through Top-Runner Program : 5.4 million kL - Wider use of clean energy motor vehicles : 0.8 million kL - Energy conservation measures involving transportation systems : 9.7 million kL Share of new additional measures : 1 million kL - Accelerated introduction of vehicles meeting Top-Runner Program criteria : 0.5 million kL - Promotion of widening of lineup of hybrid and other alternative vehicles and like : 0.5 million kL |
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| Energy conservation effects of technological
development : 1.0 million kL High performance boiler High performance lasers High efficiency lights Performance improvement of clean energy vehicles |
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