Japan Energy Information

Japan Energy Research

- Japan's Energy & Climate Policy Framework: Japan aims for a 73% GHG reduction by 2040, with 60-72% CO₂-free power. METI oversees energy policy, promoting renewables, nuclear, and efficiency. The 7^th Strategic Energy Plan (2025) outlines targets for 2040, including phasing out inefficient coal plants. Market reforms have liberalised electricity and gas sectors, enhancing competition. Renewables and hydrogen are key to Japan's decarbonisation strategy, with nuclear also playing a significant role. Energy efficiency measures and an emissions trading scheme support these goals.

- Japan's Energy Companies: JERA, Japan's largest power producer, dominates the energy sector alongside ten vertically integrated companies. ENEOS leads in oil, while the electricity sector is shaped by regional firms and J-Power. JERA is investing heavily in renewables, LNG, hydrogen, and ammonia, aiming to phase out coal by 2040. TEPCO, though reduced in capacity, remains significant in distribution. In oil, ENEOS and Idemitsu Kosan lead refining, with both transitioning to sustainable fuels. In gas, Inpex and JERA Global Markets drive LNG supply, while Tokyo Gas and others dominate distribution.

- Japan's Energy Supply & Demand: Japan ranks high in LNG and coal imports, with renewables making up 28.5% of its power mix. Energy consumption has declined since 2010, with oil, gas, and coal shares shifting. Nuclear energy is recovering post-Fukushima, while solar PV capacity is expanding rapidly. The country aims for 60-72% CO₂-free power generation by 2040.

- Japan's Energy Use & Price by Sector: Japan's final energy consumption has declined since 2010, with oil, electricity, and gas being the primary sources. Residential, services, and agriculture sectors lead demand, followed by industry and transport. Electricity's share is growing, while subsidies for gas and electricity extend to 2026, and gasoline subsidies indefinitely. Energy prices have fluctuated, with recent decreases in industrial and transport sectors, while residential prices saw adjustments amid government subsidies.

- Japan's Issues & Prospects: Japan aims to boost nuclear and offshore wind capacity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By 2040, renewables and nuclear are expected to dominate the energy mix, with coal and oil declining. The country plans to phase out coal power by 2035 and is investing in LNG and hydrogen projects to support its energy transition.

Japan Total Energy Production & Consumption

Total energy consumption has been decreasing by 1.4%/year on average since 2010, reaching 386 Mtoe in 2024. Energy consumption per capita was 3.1 toe in 2024: it is about 20% lower than the average for OECD Asia and Pacific.

Graph: Primary Consumption Trends by Energy Source

Source: Japan energy report

Interactive Chart Japan Total Energy Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Japan Oil Production & Consumption

Japan is the world's sixth largest oil importer. Crude oil imports decreased by 7% in 2024. They have been relatively stable over 2020-2023 (124 Mt average), 15% below their 2019 level.

As part of an IEA initiative of a coordinated oil release to mitigate surging crude oil prices, Japan released oil from privately held reserves between mid-2022 and mid-2024. By end-2023, the total oil release amounted to 13.5 million barrels, i.e. 3% of the country's reserves (reserves represented 232 days of domestic demand in 2023).

Source: Japan energy report

Interactive Chart Japan Crude Oil Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Interactive Chart Japan Refined Oil Products Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Japan Natural Gas Production & Consumption

Gas imports increased slightly in 2024 to 95.6 bcm (+2.3%), after a sharp decrease in 2023 (-8%), mainly due to higher nuclear availability and the expansion of renewables. Gas imports have been decreasing since 2014 (-3.5%/year over 2014-2023). Japan has long been the world's largest LNG importer and now stands behind China. It now accounts for 17% of the world's LNG imports. Between 2010 and 2014, imports had increased rapidly to compensate for the drop in nuclear production.

Source: Japan energy report

Interactive Chart Japan Gas Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Japan Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Hard coal imports remained relatively stable in 2024 at 166 Mt, after a sharp decrease in 2023 (-10%). They decreased regularly over 2013-2022 (0.9%/year), from a peak at 196 Mt. Japan is the world's third largest coal importer, behind China and India.

Coal consumption remained stable in 2024 at 157 Mt, following a 9% drop in 2023 and a decline by around 1%/year between 2013 and 2022.

Source: Japan energy report

Interactive Chart Japan Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Japan Renewable in % Electricity Production

By formulating the 7th Strategic Energy Plan (2025), METI aims to raise the share of renewables in the power mix to 40-50% (including hydropower) in 2040, with plans to make renewables the main power source in 2050 (29% carbon free in 2024).

Feed-in tariffs (FiTs) were removed in 2020 for large solar PV (>250 kW) and in 2023 for wind (>50 kW). They were replaced by a tendering program initiated by METI. The country awarded a total of 420 MW of solar PV in FY2024 (20th to 23rd auctions) and 444 MW in only five auctions in 2023 (15th to 19th auctions).

Source: Japan energy report

Interactive Chart Japan Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Japan GHG emissions and CO₂ emissions

In February 2025, Japan updated its NDC target to a 73% reduction in GHG emissions by 2040 compared to 2013 (60% by 2035). This would correspond to reaching an emission level of 570 MtCO2eq in 2035 and 380 MtCO2eq in 2040. The 2013 reference corresponds to Japan's peak of GHG emissions in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster and when thermal power generation was at its highest level. The long-term goal, announced in 2019 in the long-term growth strategy under the Paris Agreement, is to become carbon neutral in 2050.

Source: Japan energy report

Interactive Chart Japan CO₂ emissions

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data