Japan's Renewable Energy Generation Capacity Sees Sluggish Growth

The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century released a report in July 2006 indicating that investment in the renewable energy sector reached U.S.$38 billion in 2005 worldwide, up about 27 percent from the previous year.

The report was made under a collaborative effort involving more than 100 researchers worldwide. It reveals that the investment and production in wind power, biomass fuel, and solar power increased dramatically. Germany and China lead the investment, at U.S.$7 billion each, followed by the United States at about U.S.$3.5 billion, and Japan in fourth place, at over U.S.$2 billion.

Overall renewable power capacity expanded to 182 gigawatts (GW), up 14 percent from the previous year. China (42 GW) topped the list, followed by Germany (23 GW) and the United States (23 GW). Japan's renewable power capacity leveled off compared to 2004 at 6 GW , dropping it to sixth place, behind India (7 GW).

Japan's solar power capacity, which topped the world previously, has also fallen to second, overtaken by Germany. On the other hand, the report shows that Japanese companies such as Sharp and Kyocera are the global leaders in photovoltaic cell manufacturing.

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Posted: 2006/12/27 10:29:08 AM
Japanese version