Japan

In August 2013, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and industry (METI) announced the launch of a Smart Mansion Assessment System for multi-unit residential (MURB) buildings. “Smart Mansions” are apartment buildings that have an integrated building energy management system (BEMS) capable of “operating the building as a whole.”

Has been expanding into Asia for past 18 months.

Reforms will weaken monopolies of regional power utilities.

Former PM wants Abe to use nature as resources.

It’s a free field solar park on Kyushu island.

Will pay US$200 million for NuGeneration.

The Kagoshima Nanatsujima Mega Solar Plant has a capacity of 70 MW.

Projects will be located across Japan. Japan’s Solar Frontier, a supplier of thin-film PV technology, has supplied 86 MW of its CIS solar panels to a subsidiary of industrial engineering firm, the Chiyoda Corporation. Chiyoda is developing 18 individual solar power projects throughout Japan and will perform engineering, procurement and construction work on each of their plants.

Plant will supply electricity to Tokyo. JAG Energy Company, Ltd said the new solar farm will be built in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo. JAG Energy is a unit of Japan Asia Group Ltd. JAG energy will start building the facility February 2014 and is expected to complete the project by March 2015. The facility will supply power to Tokyo Electric Power Company and will be equipped with Toshiba solar panels. JAG Energy is engaged in the development and operation of renewable energy plants and provides renewable energy consulting services.

Energy will be “beamed down” to terrestrial stations.

Will supply fuel cell electric vehicles in Japan. Both companies have formed a joint venture, Toyota Tsusho Air Liquide Hydrogen Energy Corporation, with headquarters in Nagoya. The JV will build two hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) in the Aichi area (Atsuta in Nagoya and Fukada in Toyota City) to supply hydrogen for future fuel cell electric vehicles.The HRS will be operational in 2014. Fuel cell vehicles are expected to reach the Japanese consumer market in 2015.Japan intends to build 100 HRS in and alongside highways connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka by 2015.Air Liquide Group has developed technology across the entire hydrogen supply chain from production and storage to distribution and use by the end consumer. It has built 60 HRS for fuel cell vehicles around the world.Toyota Tsusho is a major affiliate of Toyota Group focusing on its energy-related business.

Energy mix will retain nuclear energy.

Will set-up joint venture by year end.

System uses Samsung SDI Company's  lithium ion batteries.

Partners with Ocean Power Technologies Inc.

Involves extracting radioactive substances from spent nuclear fuel.