This report, which compiles findings in the third term, analyzed in detail the socioeconomic benefits of international grids and studied the various energy security-related issues involved in international grid connections.
Key Insights
Our key findings are as follows:
・International grid connections increase economic transactions of electricity through trade, contribute to supply stability through the sharing of reserve capacity, and promote deployment of renewables.
・International grid connections continue to expand globally, even in geographically disadvantaged regions such as the UK. The only country in Northeast Asia not currently taking a proactive stance toward international grid connections is Japan.
・There are concrete benefits in international grid connections. In the case of a Japan-South Korea connection, electricity charges would go down, a system of emergency interchange would be created, and emission of carbon dioxide and air pollutions would be reduced.
・General concerns over energy security can essentially be ignored by Japan. When electricity is exported and imported in limited amounts on the assumption of sufficient supply capacity domestically, the effects of exports being suspended by another country on political grounds is nearly nil and so the benefits to that country, too, are non-existent.
Our recommendations
Based on these findings, we make the following recommendations to the government and other parties involved:
1. The Japanese government should begin concrete discussions on international grid connections with the governments of neighboring countries, including a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis.
2. On the premise of large-scale deployment of renewables, the Japanese government should reconsider the nature of energy security and should prominently position interconnectors within that strategy.
3. It is imperative that a long-term master plan be designed that outlines domestic and international grid systems for Japan's targets for 2050.
4. Domestic power system reforms need to be accelerated to a level equivalent to Europe; further expansion of inter-regional transmission systems and regional grids within areas need to be developed, letting transmission companies cover cross regional areas, introducing more efficient management rules to the grid system and modernizing the power market are critical issues that need to be addressed.
Renewable Energy Institute hopes that this Third report will foster lively debates and concrete discussions within Japan on the realization of international grid interconnections.
<Overview>
Chapter 1 outlines developments in international grid connections over the past year in Northeast Asia. Chapter 2 introduces international grid connection initiatives in the UK and Spain based on the Study Group’s field survey of the two countries. Chapter 3 considers in detail the benefit portion of the cost-benefit analysis of international grid connections the Study Group began in its second term. Chapter 4 summarizes points of debate regarding international grid connections and energy security.
<Contents>
Introduction
Chapter 1: Recent developments in Northeast Asia and Japan
Chapter 2: International grid initiatives in the UK and Spain
Chapter 3: Cost-benefit analysis of international grid connections
Chapter 4: International grid connections and energy security
Conclusion
About The Asia International Grid Connection Study Group
The Asia International Grid Connection Study Group was formed in July 2016 and consists of experts in electrical grid, energy policies and renewable energy from academics, business and research related fields. The Secretariat office function is undertaken by Renewable Energy Institute.
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Chair |
Tsutomu Oyama Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University |
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Deputy Chair |
Hiroshi Takahashi Professor, Department of Community and Society, Tsuru University |
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Members |
Masashi Osada Lecturer, Waseda University (member since April 2019) Takeo Kikkawa Professor, Graduate School of Management, Tokyo University of Science Tetsuo Saito Project Researcher, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo (REI Senior Research Fellow since April 2019) Taku Niioka Chairman, Energy Committee, European Business Council in Japan (Member until March 2019) Shigeki Miwa General Manager, CEO Project Office, SoftBank Group Corp.; and Representative Director & CEO, SB Energy Corp. Teruyuki Ohno Executive Director, Renewable Energy Institute |
| Observer | Hiroshi Okamoto Vice President, TEPCO Power Grid, Inc. |
| Adviser | Nobuo Tanaka Chairman, Sasakawa Peace Foundation |
<Related Links>
・Asia International Grid Connection Study Group Second Report（June 2018）
[Related event] Towards the Realization of International Grid Interconnections in Japan （July 2018）
・[International Conference in Seoul] Asia Super Grid ― from concept to reality for North East Asia （October 2017 / Seoul, South Korea)
・Asia International Grid Connection Study Group Interim Report（April 2017）
[Related event] Future of Power Business with Interconnections in Asia（May 2017）
