Launch of Japan Renewable Energy Foundation to pioneer Japan’s paradigm shift towards renewable energy
Tokyo, 12 September 2011
by Christine Lins, REN21 Secretariat
Today marks the founding of Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF). After the tragic events in Fukushima in March 2011, Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SOFTBANK Corp., one of Japan’s leading telecommunication company, felt the need to initiate discussion about a paradigm shift of Japan’s energy sector and initiated the creation of the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation.
JREF launch positively received
Newly elected Prime Minster of Japan Yoshihiko Noda, recently stated “Building new reactors will be next to impossible. Reactors will be decommissioned upon reaching the end of their lifetime.” This clearly means that the dependency on nuclear will be minimized by 2030. In addition, the world expects significant price increase of fossil fuel, outlining the need to lower dependency on fossil fuels as well. Both assumptions clearly lead the way to a wide deployment of renewable energy sources.
JREF puts forward a proposal for a new energy policy 2030 focusing on a wide deployment of renewable energy as well as the therefore needed stable legal framework, electricity market liberalization together with reinforcement of the transmission infrastructure incl. the establishment of a Japan Super Grid in the first phase, an East Asia Super Grid in the next step as well as finally an Asia Super Grid and engages itself to put forward model cases how renewable energy deployment can best benefit Japan.
The benefit for moving into this direction will be stability, security of energy supply and economic development for Japan as well as peace in the region. The Japan Renewable Energy Foundation will work towards making this renewable energy paradigm shift become reality.
JREF will focus its activity on three main categories: policy innovation, technology business development, advocacy and grant programmes. The founding of JREF by one of Japan’s leading business men was positively received by Japan’s Minstry of Environment and several Japanese dignities and renewable energy specialists from all around the world, many of them working together within REN21.
JREF Team
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