The outline of the green growth strategy, which will be developed by the Japanese government over this summer, was revealed on July 3. The strategy focuses mainly on next-generation vehicles, energy systems and storage batteries, and aims to create new industries that can be successful both domestically and overseas.
At a national policy council meeting held in March, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda instructed his staff by saying, “Green innovation will be a major pillar in the revitalization of Japan. I would like to see a drastic policy package compiled as a green growth strategy by this summer.”
The strategy currently includes five key policies: (1) establishment of Japan’s presence in global markets through next-generation vehicles; (2) development of energy systems and their expansion to overseas; (3) creation of storage battery markets and strengthening of Japan’s competitiveness in such markets; (4) achievement of industrial growth through green materials; and (5) strategic development and use of the ocean environment.
The policy on energy systems will promote the development of new technological systems through demonstration projects conducted jointly with foreign governments or companies, as well as the operation of joint ventures in cooperation with Japanese companies having overseas bases. In the area of storage batteries, the policy seeks to improve the performance and reduce the costs of large-scale storage batteries for power systems with the aim of achieving the same levels of installation costs as those of pumped-storage hydraulic power generation. The policy on green materials will focus on the development of innovative next-generation materials, envisaging a strategy encompassing all processes from basic research to practical application.
