Japan to subsidize energy-efficient plants: report

According to Reuters, “Japan’s government plans to subsidize domestic plants producing clean-energy and energy-efficient goods under steps to support the slowing economy, the Nikkei newspaper said, as the murky outlook keeps firms from boosting spending at home. A strong yen is putting additional pressure on Japan’s fragile economy, which is already seeing slowing growth and [...]

ITOCHU Corporation and GE entered into collaboration agreement

According to the press release, “ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) and General Electric Company (headquartered in Fairfield, CT; Jeff Immelt, Chairman & CEO) entered into a collaboration and cooperation agreement to identify co-investment opportunities in renewable energy worldwide. Under this agreement, General Electric’s GE Energy Financial Services [...]

Toyota Develops Solar Charging Stations for EVs

Toyota Industries Corp. (TIC), the parent company of Toyota Motors, has laid plans to develop a solar charging station network throughout Toyota City in the Aichi Prefecture. Twenty-one stations in eleven locations are set to be built by April 2010 after which they will be thoroughly tested with Toyota’s very own Prius fleet. The stations [...]

Solar Business – Ups and Downs

While green technology has taken off around the world, in several areas the concentration of an environmentally friendly ideal has truly sprouted wings. While the enlightened masses try their best to do their part to stave off global warming and reduce their carbon footprint, for some it is simply not enough. There is now a [...]

Green Japan making waves

Long before the idea of creating power from the motion of the oceans, the Japanese have had a fascination with waves and weather. Ever since the kamikazes (divine wind) saved them from Mongol invasions under the command of Kublai Khan in the 13th century, the Japanese have honored the sea and its power. In more [...]

Japan may cut emissions by less than 25 percent

According to Reuters, “Japan cautioned on Friday that it could water down planned 2020 cuts in greenhouse gas emissions if other rich nations fail to make deep reductions as part of a U.N. deal due in Copenhagen in December. In Brussels, a draft report showed that European Union states were preparing to endorse an estimate [...]

Japan mulls early emission limits: report

According to the AFP, “Japan’s new government led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama plans to introduce a mandatory cap-and-trade greenhouse gas emissions system as early as 2011, a report said Sunday. A cabinet committee is likely to discuss the issue Sunday in an effort to reach Hatoyama’s stated goal of reducing emissions by 25 percent [...]

Q and A – How will Japan’s new government tackle climate change?

Reuters reports, “Japan’s new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, has pledged to target a 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, despite opposition from industry, which says the goal will hurt the economy. The target, more ambitious than the previous government’s, is premised on a deal on goals being agreed by [...]