Energy

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is moving energy companies to supply 20% renewable energy by 2020

What is it?

Tokyo is helping energy companies to reduce CO2 emissions and shift to renewable energy by requiring them to regularly publish the amount of carbon dioxide they are emitting, and demonstrate their plans to shift to renewable supplies. In the first year of operation, six out of nine electricity companies had reduced their emissions by a total of 680,000 tons CO2. The strategy is simple - by requiring energy companies to show customers their green credentials, the City is driving greater competition for renewable-sourced energy. The City wants 20% of all energy to be renewable by 2020.

How does it work?

Under the program Tokyo Electric Power and other power producer and suppliers (PPSs), are required to release plans and reports including:

• the CO2 emission factors (greenhouse gas emission per electricity kilowatt hour)
• the reduction target for the factor
• the actual introduction of renewable energy
• future schedules for the introduction of renewable energy

The identities of environmentally-consciousness companies are then announced by the city. Importantly, this helps electricity customers choose, driving competition for renewably sourced energy. Companies that do not submit documentation are formally asked to do so by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG). If the company still does not submit details, then the Government announces its name to the public, as a non-participant.

Electricity companies arte reducing their CO2 emission factors through internal efficiencies, such as switching to cleaner fuels; or supply efficiencies, such as increased generation using renewable sources. The city wants to achieve 20% renewable energy supply for the city by 2020.

Key results

The program is cutting emissions by 680,000 tons CO2 annually. This is about a 1% reduction of total CO2 emissions in Tokyo – based on the same electricity consumption in 2005 as 2004 (84.9 billion kWh).

CO2 emission reductions as a result of the program

Application

The electricity market in Japan was partly liberalized in April 2005. Since then all consumers who receive high voltage power supply are able to choose the electricity company. Any city, which has liberalized electricity markets, can replicate this program and stimulate consumers to choose cleaner energy by showing them the data of quality of electricity.