Tokyo Aims to Raise Renewable Energy Use to 20% by 2020

On April 3, 2006, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) released its "Renewable Energy Strategy," an attempt to boost the use of renewable energy to about 20 percent by 2020.. The TMG says the strategy is valuable not only as a measure against global warming, but also as a tool for the development of disaster prevention measures in a city that faces the risk of periodic earthquakes, while creating business opportunities for new potential growth industries.

In fiscal 2003, Tokyo's renewable energy use accounted for only about 2.7 percent of total energy consumption, prompting the city to review energy use and consider plans for reducing energy consumption.

To expand renewable energy use, the TMG will consider measures such as disclosing information on actual renewable energy use and adopting policies that encourage the use of set levels of renewable energy in overall energy projects.

To implement the strategy, the TMG will collaborate with businesses, NPOs and citizens interested in the wider use of renewable energy. Some of the concrete measures in the strategy include increasing green procurement of electricity, seeking donations and investments from citizens and corporations for introducing solar power systems at public facilities, developing attractive, comfortable energy-saving houses, and encouraging greater use of solar heat in housing.



Posted: 2006/05/25 09:52:22 PM
Japanese version