Japanese wind energy development policy: Grand plan or group think?

This paper analyzes Japanʹs national power generation strategy with a view to explaining Japanʹs phlegmatic approach to wind energy development. The analysis concludes that Japanʹs current power generation strategy is not optimized to achieve the governmentʹs three strategic energy objectives of simultaneously enhancing economic security, national energy security and environmental security (3Es). To achieve long-run energy sustainability, Japan needs to strive to phase out nuclear power, which is the centerpiece of its current power generation strategy. The analysis concludes by offering four suggestions for a sustainable 3E power generation strategy: (1) internalize all external costs associated with power generation technologies in order to level the economic playing field, (2) increase feed-in mandates for renewable energy to 20%, (3) fully liberalize the power generation industry and (4) intensify R&D in energy storage technologies to support intermittent renewable technologies.