Japan

They are among the 25 companies chosen by the Japanese government to undergo radiation decontamination tests after the Fukushima disaster.

Softbank Corp. will build three demonstration solar power plants in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

Kansai Electric Power is expected to face a power supply shortage in February of 2.53 million kilowatts.

Japan has approved a plan to provide 900 billion yen or $11.5 billion in public funds to Tepco.Japan's nuclear minister, Goshi Hosono, says the aid is meant to be a preliminary installment to help the cash-strapped Tokyo Electric Power Co. to cover the massive cost of ongoing decontamination and future dismantling of its reactors damaged in the ongoing nuclear crisis.The money comes from the fund made up of all Japanese nuclear plant operators and the government.

Smart meters for among 80% households to be delivered come 2015 instead of 2020.

The Japan government already sent several missions to China, Malaysia and Vietnam for smart community development and guess where the next stop is?

Tepco discovered xenon, a substance produced as a byproduct of nuclear fission, in the No 2 reactor of its Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Power demand in Japan fell 5.5 percent in October from a year earlier.

The Fukushima disaster has meant overhaul in Japan's energy policy.

Japan is expected to avert power outages this winter through energy conservation but new problems will arise in summer as its entire fleet of reactors could be kept idled.

Japan Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and his Indian counterpart, SM Krishna, agreed to move ahead with talks toward a civilian nuclear power agreement. This serves as a precondition that would enable Tokyo to export nuclear power plant technology to the South Asian nation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, will likely discuss nuclear power cooperation when they meet Monday, a government official said.

Countries are raising the standards and safety precautions of nuclear power plants, not only in Asia, but all over the world as well.

Kansai Electric Power Co is facing the most severe power shortage this winter among the nine Japanese utilities that operate nuclear plants, as opposition to restarting idled reactors limits its power generation, the Nikkei business daily said on Monday.        The government's National Policy unit is expected to compile utilities' winter power supply/demand outlook as early as Tuesday, projecting a 9.5 percent power shortage in areas served by Kansai Electric in February, the report said.        A July estimate by the central government showed Kansai would have an 8.4 percent shortfall this winter. Kansai, which has the highest reliance on nuclear power among Japan's power providers, has yet to announce its winter supply/demand outlook because of uncertainty over reactor restarts.         The government is expected to ask Kansai's customers to curb power use by around 10 percent this winter, compared with cuts of 15 percent sought in the summer.        Kansai has only four of its 11 reactors running, with three of them set to be closed for maintenance by the year-end, which would limit its ability to genera Reuters

The world aims for 50% reduction in CO2 by 2050 but after the Fukushima disaster, the goal seems difficult to achieve already, said Former IEA director Nobuo Tanaka during the Singapore International Energy Week.

Shocking news as no power plants being restarted after maintenance will see Japan off all Nuclear by June 2011.

Toshiba Corp will join a seven-company consortium, led by Mitsui Chemicals, to construct and operate Japan's largest solar photovoltaic plant in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.