Revisiting Japan’s Energy Politics in the Post-Fukushima Era = the Precarious Rise of the Renewable Energy Sector and its Implications

국문 초록 (Abstract)

후쿠시마 원전사고는 일본의 에너지정치, 특히 폐쇄적인 에너지정책 커뮤니티를 어떻게 바꿔놓았는가? 최근의 에너지시장 자유화를 위한 일련의 조치들과 재생에너지산업의 부상은 에너지산업의 주요 기성세력 (예를 들어 발전회사, 경제산업성, 자민당 등)의 몰락과 에너지정책 커뮤니티에서 새로운 세력의 부상을 가져올 것인가? 재생에너지의 급격한 부상으로 에너지 시장이 상당한 변화를 겪은 것은 맞으나, 일본의 에너지정책 커뮤니티가 겪은 변화는 매우 제한적이다. 경제산업성은 재생에너지 개발을 주도함으로써 에너지정책 커뮤니티를 선도하는 지위를 유지하고 있다. 마찬가지로, 자민당은 그들의 공고한 친원전 입장을 여전히 유지하고 있다. 또한, 발전회사들은 전력분배에 대한 통제력과 현재 부상하는 재생에너지 산업에서의 경쟁력을 통해 새로운 시장진입자들 대비 압도적인 우위를 유지하고 있다. 요약하면, 일본 에너지 시장에 최근 변화가 일어나고 있으나 일본의 에너지정책 커뮤니티는 여전히 공고한 편이다. 일본의 에너지정책 커뮤니티에 새로운 세력이 부상하거나 일본의 에너지 정책적 목표가 바뀔 가능성은 당분간은 낮아 보인다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

How did the Fukushima nuclear disaster alter energy politics, specifically the nature of Japan’s closed energy policymaking community? Do recent energy market liberalization measures and the rise of the renewable energy sector signify the weakening of traditional energy actors (e.g., power companies, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)) and the rise of new actors in the energy policymaking community? While the energy market underwent substantial changes due to the rapid rise of the renewable energy sector, changes in Japan’s energy policymaking community is much more limited. METI has assumed a leading role in renewable energy development, enabling it to maintain its key position in the energy policymaking community. Likewise, the LDP has not shifted from its staunch pronuclear stance. Power companies have retained their dominant position vis-à-vis new market entrants through their control over electricity distribution and their competitive position in the emerging renewable energy sector. In sum, despite recent changes in Japan’s energy market, Japan’s energy policymaking community remains largely intact. The likelihood of new actors joining Japan’s energy policymaking community and changing the overall goals of Japan’s energy policies is low in the foreseeable future.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Energy Policymaking Community and Energy Policies Prior to 2011
• 3. Changes in the Energy Sector Post－2011 : Growth of the Renewable Energy Sector
• 4. Changes and Continuities in Japan’s Energy Policymaking Community
• 5. Conclusion : Implications on the Future of Japan’s Energy Politics
• Reference

참고문헌 (Reference)

• 1 Asahi Shimbun, "The smiles have returned to the ‘nuclear village’"
• 2 The National Diet of Japan, "The official report of the Fukushima nuclear accident independent investigation commission: Executive summary"
• 3 Takase, K., "The Japanese energy sector: Current situation, and future paths" 39 : 6731-6744, 2011
• 4 Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), "Summary of press conference comments made by Satoru Katsuno, FEPC chairman, on october 13, 2017"
• 5 Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), "Summary of press conference comments made by Satoru Katsuno, FEPC chairman, on march 17, 2017"
• 6 Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), "Summary of press conference comments made by Makoto Yagi, FEPC chairman, on september 16, 2011"
• 7 Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), "Renewables 2016: Global Status Report" REN21 2016
• 8 Wang, Q., "Regulatory failures for nuclear safety—the bad example of Japan—implication for the rest of the world" 16 : 2610-2617, 2012
• 9 Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), "Principles and measures 2003-2004"
• 10 The Japan Times, "Power industry outlasts DPJ"
• 11 Aldrich, D. P., "Post-crisis Japanese nuclear policy: From top-down directives to bottom-up activism" 2012
• 12 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "Outline of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry(METI) FY2018 budget request"
• 13 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "Outline of the METI-related FY 2015 budget request"
• 14 The Japan Times, "Nuclear energy policy emerged as key difference between Abe and Koike"
• 15 Asahi Shimbun, "Nuclear energy a key issue as Japan goes to polls"
• 16 Japan Press Weekly, "LDP and Keidanren agree with nuclear energy promotion"
• 17 Duffield, J., "Japan’s new basic energy plan" 39 : 3741-3749, 2011
• 18 Hikaru, H., "Japan’s energy policy in a post-3/11 world: Juggling safety, sustainability and economics" The Tokyo Foundation
• 19 Nakamoto, M., "Japan prepares for nuclear u-turn"
• 20 McNeil, D., "Japan pins hopes on increased use of solar power"
• 21 Soble, J., "Japan grapples with nuclear question"
• 22 Silverstein, K., "Japan circling back to nuclear power after Fukushima disaster" Forbes
• 23 Sheldrick, A., "Japan Restarts Nuclear Reactor in Test of Abe’s Nuclear Policy" Reuters
• 24 Harlan, C., "In Japan, new policy spurs solar power boom"
• 25 Fackler, M., "In Japan, a culture that promotes nuclear dependency"
• 26 Chowdhury, S., "Importance of policy for energy system transformation: Diffusion of PV technology in Japan and Germany" 68 : 285-293, 2014
• 27 Collaborating Centre, "Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2017" Frankfurt School–UNEP Collaborating Centre
• 28 Collaborating Centre, "Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016" Frankfurt School–UNEP Collaborating Centre
• 29 Kimura, K., "Feed-in tariffs in Japan: Five years of achievements and future challenges" Renewable Energy Institute
• 30 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "Feed-In tariff scheme in Japan"
• 31 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "FY2016 Annual Report on Energy" METI 2017
• 32 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "FY2015 Annual Report on Energy" METI 2016
• 33 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "FY2013 Annual Report on Energy" METI 2014
• 34 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "FY 2011 Budget Request"
• 35 Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), "FEPC’s stance on Democratic Party of Japan’s policy position on energy and environment"
• 36 Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), "Environmental action plan by the Japanese electricutility industry"
• 37 Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC), "Environmental action plan by the Japanese electric utility industry"
• 38 International Energy Agency (IEA), "Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Japan, 2016 Review" IEA 2016
• 39 Johnston, E., "Balance of power: Shift toward renewable energy appears to be picking up steam" The Japan Times