On the occasion of Tomas Kåberger's Return to Japan The Energy Crisis and the Role of Renewables

in Japanese

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues and global energy prices are surging, the debate on decarbonization and energy security is gaining momentum. Many countries are stepping up measures to promote renewables, while others are advocating the revival of nuclear power.

On the occasion of our Chair of Executive Board, Tomas Kåberger's return to Japan after two years and three months, Renewable Energy Institute hosted a hybrid event to discuss how energy policies can overcome the crisis in Europe and Japan in particular.

Program　

[MC]   Yuri Okubo Senior Researcher, Renewable Energy Institute

Event Details

Tuesday 14 June  /  10:00 - 12:00 JST

Speakers Profie

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  Tomas Kåberger
  Chair of Executive Board, Renewable Energy Institute

  Tomas Kåberger has been the Chair of Executive Board of Renewable Energy Institute since its foundation in 2011. Academically, he got an MSc in Engineering Physics, a PhD in Physical Resource Theory, and Docent in Environmental Science at Chalmers. He has been professor in International Sustainable Energy Systems at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University, and he is currently affiliate Professor of Industrial Energy Policy at Chalmers University of Technology.
  Industrially, he has had leading roles in companies providing fuels and technology in the bio-energy industry, another company developing sustainable energy solutions for the automotive industry, and a company operating wind power plants. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Vattenfall, and as Industrial Growth Executive of the European company InnEnergy.
  Politically, he has served on board of Swedish and European Environmental Citizen’s organizations, several Swedish Government Committees developing energy and environmental legislation, and China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development as a member of a task force on Low-Carbon Industrialization Strategies. From 2008 until 2011 he was Director General of the National Swedish Energy Agency. He was also a member of the Swedish Climate Policy Council between 2018 and 2021.

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  Hiroshi Takahashi
  Professor, Tsuru University

  Hiroshi Takahashi specializes in public policy and energy policy. He obtained a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, MA, USA and a doctoral degree from the University of Tokyo, and currently serves as Professor at Tsuru University. His former career includes Deputy Director at IT Policy Office of Cabinet Secretariat, Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo, and Research Fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute. He has actively participated in the policy formation of Japan’s electricity system reform and renewable energy deployment as a member of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy as well as a special advisor to the Cabinet Office. He is the author of "Energy Policy Studies" (2017, Iwanami Shoten) and “Market Liberalization of Electric Utilities” (2011, Nihon Keizai Shimbun Shuppansha), among others.

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  Teruyuki Ohno
  Executive Director, Renewable Energy Institute

  Teruyuki Ohno joined Renewable Energy Institute in 2013. He has actively participated in the policy formation of Japan’s climate change measures as a member of the subcommittee of carbon pricing and others led by the Ministry of the Environment Japan. Before joining the Institute, he was Director General of the Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government for three years, covering a broad range of environmental issues including energy, climate change, waste management, pollution control, natural environment, and sustainable development. His notable achievements include the “No Dirty Diesel Vehicle Strategy in Tokyo” which reduced the air pollution and PM emissions, and implementation of Japan’s first Cap-and-Trade Program in Tokyo in 2008, involving the industries and successfully building a grand consensus. His active leadership in promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency led to the formation of the foundation of Tokyo’s energy policy. He also serves as part-time lecturer at the University of Tokyo, Adviser for ICLEI Japan, Board Member of WWF Japan and Counselor to the Governor on Zero Emission Tokyo and Environmental Policy. He received the Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award from the California Air Resources Board in 2014. His publications include "Energy Strategies of Municipality Governments" (Iwanami, 2013, Japanese) among others.

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  Mika Ohabayashi
  Director, Renewable Energy Institute

  Mika Ohbayashi is Director at Renewable Energy Institute since its foundation in August 2011. Before joining the Institute, from 2010 to 2011, she worked in Abu Dhabi for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as Policy and Project Regional Manager for Asia Oceania. Prior to that, she worked at the British Embassy to Japan as Climate Change Project Advisor from 2008 to 2009, and served as Director at the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies from 2000 to 2008. She started her career in the energy field by joining the Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center in 1992. In 2017, she was awarded the ISES Global Leadership Award in Advancing Solar Energy Policy - in honour of Hermann Scheer by the International Solar Energy Society.。

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