The Japanese government plans to cut red tape to enable faster approval times for renewable energy projects. The moves are part of the country’s efforts to accelerate its greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Previously, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Japan planned to cut emissions by 46% by 2030 from 2013 baselines, stepping up from its previous reduction target of 26%.
According to environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi, government agencies will cooperate to make renewable energy Japan’s mainstream power source. He added that the ministry would support the expansion in the use of rooftop solar power, faster development of geothermal projects, and faster environmental reviews for wind power projects.
Japan aims at carbon neutrality by 2050 and has carried out a series of deregulations. Among other measures include relaxing regulations on environmental review for solar panel installations on abandoned farmland and wind power projects of up to 50 MW. Japan plans to double its inter-regional power grid capacity and expand its offshore wind power capacity by 45 GW by 2040.
