Unwavering Durability: EU-Japan Energy Cooperation

After the Fukushima accident of 2011, the Japanese government under Prime Minister Abe began efforts to improve the ratio of renewable energy for the Japanese market. Over the past five years, Japanese development of renewable energy technology was stimulated by government support and expanded exponentially. Admitted; 2016 saw some setbacks in this process. The Paris Agreement of 2016, however, reinvigorated hopes and displayed the shared belief in the never-ending need for a switch towards renewable energy. Even though the inauguration of President Trump and the skepticism towards renewable energy he represents a challenge, the EU and Japan could take matters into own hands. The dream of an EU-Japan durable energy technology corridor could become a reality. Business cooperation seems now more possible than ever.

While Germany and Denmark among others represent are at the forefront of renewable energy use and know-how, Japan hosts the technological capacity to produce components on a large scale. Japan’s confinement to importing expensive fuel, its exposure to earthquakes in the face of nuclear plant leakage, its potential regarding sun-wind-hydro power generation and its commitment to the Paris agreements make Japan a necessary and ideal partner for European businesses and R&D centers to cooperate with. Following this line of thought, combining Japanese production capacity and the Japanese potential market with European know-how and experience in practical use of renewable energy methods suggests a more than logical possibility.