The proposal first urges the government to aim for concurrent achievement of energy security, economic efficiency, environmental protection and safety (known as “3E+S”). To that end, it notes that in many Western countries the percentages of base-load power sources in the mix \u2014 though gradually declining \u2014 are over 60%, and says Japan will have to ensure an internationally comparable level.<\/p>\n
Addressing the composition of power sources in Japan’s energy mix, the proposal says it is essential to (a) return to the concept of “3E + S,” the starting point for energy policy, (b) clarify policy objectives related to it, and (c) pursue them via a practical, well-balanced supply-and-demand structure, rather than discussing pre-set figures.<\/p>\n
Concerned about adverse effects of substantial increases in power rates since the earthquake on the lives of ordinary people and economic activities \u2014 i.e., economic efficiency within \u201c3E+S\u201d \u2014 the proposal seeks to ensure a composition of base-load power sources that reduces the cost of electric power to the level before the earthquake, or as close as possible.<\/p>\n
Geothermal, hydropower, nuclear and coal-fired thermal are positioned as base-load power sources: those that can generate power consistently at low cost and operate continually, day and night.<\/p>\n
According to a recent analysis by the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), base-load power sources accounted for approximately 60% of the total before the giant earthquake of March 2011. By 2013, the figure had fallen to 40%.<\/p>\n
If the percentage of base-load power sources is returned to a level of 50% or 60% (with renewable energies contributing 25% or 20%, respectively) by 2030, it is estimated that energy costs would be reduced by JPY1.4 trillion (USD11.6 billion at USD1=JPY120) and JPY 2.4 trillion (USD 20.0 billion), respectively, in comparison with 40% base-load level (renewables 30%).<\/p>\n
In terms of \u201cenvironmental protection,\u201d the proposal says that, with a growth strategy as precondition, and a substantial improvement in energy efficiency, to a level equivalent to that immediately after the Oil Crisis, realizing such an energy mix should result in substantial CO2 emissions, which have increased dramatically since the earthquake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The proposal first urges the government to aim for concurrent achievement of energy security, economic efficiency, environmental protection and safety (known as “3E+S”). To that end, it notes that in many Western countries the percentages of base-load power sources in the mix \u2014 though gradually declining \u2014 are over 60%, and says Japan will have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,8],"tags":[336,52,334,333,34,329,332,335,327,69],"class_list":["post-928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-policies","tag-3es","tag-abe","tag-co2","tag-coal","tag-energy-mix","tag-geothermal","tag-hydro","tag-ldp","tag-renewable","tag-rite"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t