Finnode Japan 2012 - Paradigm Shift in energy environment after 3.11
Short description of the topic
In response to electricity crisis caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima, the government, power companies and private companies have been trying to find out new framework of energy security, which is not highly depending on single energy source i.e. nuclear power. Consumers' concerns over energy source and environment are also increasing and one solution is the development of more renewable energy resource and realize the best energy mix.
The Japanese government is currently formulating a new energy policy, in which presumably the portion of nuclear energy will be smaller while increasing focus on new and renewable energy. The Basic Energy Plan, which is currently under compilation at the initiative of the government, is supposed to be manifested in August 2012. This plan shall be closely watched, together with the movement of Nuclear Policy Outline, in order to assess mid-long term directional movement of Japanese energy development.
R&D and materialization of solutions for new & renewable energy is to be planed and conducted according to the Basic Energy Plan, and expect to affect public and private sector of Japan. Especially in affected area in Tohoku region, some energy related projects are under formulation: e.g. biomass power generation to effectively process tremendous amount of rubbles there and to be served as sustainable distributed energy source of the region even after processing rubbles.
Along with the expansion of distributed energy sources, existing electricity market is gradually changing, in that Tepco and the government has started considering separation of power generation and transmission that Tepco has been dominating, in order to make the electricity market more competitive and liberalized. This structural changes in Japanese electricity business scene shall be closely monitored.
When Japan sets new goals and redefines its priorities on energy development, that will have global influence on movements in energy and environment. The development of new & renewable energy resources will soar, and separation of electricity generation and transmission will create more business chances for small scale power producers such as biomass, wind and other renewable energy.
Finland has history and technology of smaller scale distributed energy supply and will have a greater chance to open up the new market in Japan. When Japanese companies will focus on development of alternative energy sources, it does not offer opportunities for existing Finnish technologies only but will also open new opportunities for R&D cooperation and eventually to attract Japanese investments to Finland.
Goal and strategic compliance
Project’s goal:
Goal is to follow the paradigm shift in Japanese energy environment from many different angles: i.e. policy, social design, R&D and market, in order to foresee mid-long term trends in Japanese energy sector after the disaster on 11th March 2011. Throughout the survey, things like: balance in economy and environmental conservation (CO2 emission), the best energy mix and technology to support it (smart grid), business models & business schemes, model cases (development projects, forerunner companies, opinion leaders), … are to be identified to give a foresights to Finnish stakeholders in energy & environment sector.
As result the project will help identify business opportunities for Finnish companies, but will also help to pave the way to build new partnerships between Finnish and Japanese organizations, to encourage cooperation in mutual interest areas.
Strategic compliance:
Tekes strategic focus area of Natural resources and sustainable economy, Motiva, Cleen Oy, Energiateknologiaklusteri, RYM Oy. In addition companies, other OSKEs and regional development organizations will benefit of the results.
Content
Project manager(Finpro), project manager (Tekes) & team:
Finnode director responsible for the project: TBC
Project supervisor: Mr. Reijo Kangas, Director, Real Estate and Construction Industries, Tekes (tbc) and
Mr. Janne Hietaniemi, Head of Energy and Environment Industry, Finpro (tbc)
Project manager(Finpro): Koichi Tanaka, Finpro Japan
Project implementation team: Koichi Tanaka, Finpro Japan, Marko Salonen, Finpro Japan,
Mitsuru Niwano, Tekes Tokyo
Main tasks, schedule, deliverables (signal session, client seminar, report etc.) and cooperation (with FinNode partners, OSKEs, SHOKs etc.).
This project will follow the paradigm shift in Japanese energy environment from many different angles: i.e. policy, social design, R&D and market, in order to foresee mid-long term trends in Japanese energy sector after the disaster on 11th March 2011.
Main Tasks: This project consists of 3 main tasks:
1. Basic study on research subjects and observation of mid-long term trends in Japanese energy sector:
Study on Basic Energy Plan and related policies/guidelines, external factors of the changes, innovation, technology trend and roadmap, pilot projects, business model, R&D activities, commercialization plan, etc.
2. Detailed survey and verification:
Task includes:
•Identification of development projects, forerunner companies, opinion leaders, …
•Case studies on remarkable pilot projects, .
3. Dissemination of findings of the project:
The findings from the survey are to be presented to Finnish parties at relevant occasion: e.g. seminar, workshop, signal session.
Schedule: The progress will be informed to Helsinki/Finland from time to time.
•Project plan formulation and review: Finnode Japan and counterparts in Finland, August - September 2012
•Basic study and observation: Finnode Japan, September 2012 – November 2012
•Detailed survey and report writing: Finnode Japan, December 2012 – February 2013
•Final report ready: Finnode Japan, March 2013
•Project result dissemination: Finnode Japan March - April 2013
Deliverables: Interim/final reports, workshop, presentation in signal session.
Koichi Tanaka
Finpro Japan
+81 3 6859 6805
koichi.tanaka@finpro.fi
