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JST Press Release

25th July 2012

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666

JST evaluated economical impacts of Japan’s future energy mix on households
~energy-saving measures in households and consideration for low-income
brackets are the key for realizing a low carbon and affluent society~

The government first presented three options for the nation’s future energy mix before implementing a public comment.

The options have different power structures in which nuclear power represents either zero percent, 15 percent, or 20 to 25 percent.

The amount of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, the cost of power generation systems, energy-saving measures, the households’ power expenditure, and a real GDP for each of the three options were calculated as indicators of future society in 2030.

The LCS (Center for Low Carbon Society Strategy, JST) estimated economic impacts on households divided into 18 income brackets for each option in 2030.

It is found that implementing global warming mitigation measures would not be advantageous to most of the income brackets, compared with the case in which neither global warming mitigation measures nor power-saving measures were adopted.

On the other hand, introduction of future power-saving residences, future vehicles, and continuous legal top-runner framework in addition to global warming mitigation measures will be advantageous to all the income brackets.

However, there remains a disparity in the economic advantages between high and low-income brackets.

It is also important to frame economic institutions to correct the differences.

No matter which option Japan adopts, it is clear that energy-saving measures in households will be the most effective for our living.

For realizing both a low carbon and affluent society, Japan should develop future business strategy and invest in R&D.

Examples of areas of potential interest include: future networking systems for promoting energy conservation, innovative renewable energy sources, and power storage systems.

LCS (Center for Low Carbon Society Strategy)

LCS is the think tank in JST, and aims to construct a sustainable low carbon society compatible with affluent life. LCS studies and assesses low carbon technologies in order to promote its introduction, analyze the economic effects, and also propose new regional social systems related to the low carbon society project.

Enquiries

Center for Low Carbon Society Strategy / Japan Science and Technology Agency

K’s Gobancho, 7, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076

Kenichi Furuhata, Michiaki Yumoto, Satoko Nagai, Ai Kishioka
Fax: +81-3-6272-9273 Tel: +81-3-6272-9270
E-mail:

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JST, an integrated organization of science and technology in Japan, establishes an infrastructure for the entire process from the creation of knowledge to the return to the society. For more information, visit http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/