Japan's weakness on energy is brought to the forefront as Middle East crisis worsens, says REI chair

The chair of the Renewable Energy Institute stated that Japan must do more to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels after the Middle East conflict escalated and halted the tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This highlighted Japan's vulnerability to?geopolitical risk. Japan imports 95% of its crude oils and 11% of liquefied gas through the Strait. About 70% of the latter and 6% of the former are shipped via the Strait. The closure of the channel has caused sharp increases in fuel prices. This is particularly hard on energy-importing countries like Japan. Tomas Kaberger is the chairman of REI's Tokyo-based?executive council and a long-time observer of Japan’s energy system. He said that the country must reduce its?vulnerability' by cutting dependency on fossil fuels. In an interview last weekend, he said that when fossil fuel imports were cut off, power plants would stop running and cars would halt.

He said that the Iran crisis was a "stark reminder" of how fossil fuel dependence posed geopolitical and economic risks.

In this month, we mark 15 years since Fukushima Daiichi's nuclear disaster. This event fundamentally changed Japan's view of energy security. Kaberger warned that nuclear power is not the solution.

Modern weapons and drones can easily target large power plants. He said that it was proven the Russians had destroyed a number of large power plants throughout?Ukraine.

Decentralised renewables -- such as solar, wind, and battery storage -- offer a higher level of resilience because no one strike can disrupt the national supply.

Kaberger also called on Japan to recognize its strengths in renewable energy. In the 20th century, Japan was a resource-poor country because its dominant energy sources were coal, uranium, and oil. He said that in the 21st Century, solar, wind, and battery technologies are now 'the world's most affordable forms of power generation. Japan is resource rich.

Kaberger says that with Middle Eastern tensions on the rise and Fukushima lessons still fresh in our minds, Japan has an historic opportunity to accelerate its renewables and ensure energy independence and resilience. (Reporting and editing by Kate Mayberry; Yuka Obayashi)

(source: Reuters)