RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST: ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS WITH JAPAN

UNCLAS TOKYO 001305 SIPDIS EAP/EP FOR LORRAINE HAWLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ECIN APECO JA SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST: ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS WITH JAPAN REF: A) STATE 52444, B) OSAKA KOBE 24 ¶1. (U) Post offers the following information on U.S.-Japan joint energy initiatives in response to ref A. Collaborative Research -------------- ¶2. (U) The Department of Energy has actively cooperated with Japan on energy, science, and technology over the past several decades, including arrangements with DOE National Laboratories. The basis for this cooperation originates from prior G8 and bilateral commitments, including the 2007 U.S.-Japan Cooperation on Energy Security Workplan, which outlines both countries' commitment to strengthening energy security through improving energy efficiency and diversifying our energy mixes. ¶3. (U) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Minister Nikai and Energy Secretary Chu renewed and expanded this commitment in May 2009 through an MOU to accelerate research and development of low-carbon technologies. Technical collaboration will continue in areas such as smart grids, energy efficient building design and zero emissions buildings, solar energy, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells, green information technologies and carbon capture and sequestration. ¶4. (U) METI also concluded in May 2009 an MOU with the State of New Mexico for interactive R&D in a broad range of scientific areas, including clean energy, manufacturing, biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology and smart grid. Of particular note, METI and Japan's New Energy Development Organization (NEDO) are participating in a smart grid demonstration project that grew out of a State of New Mexico-NEDO joint "New Mexico Green Grid Project" workshop held in April 2009. Several Japanese firms, including Hitachi, Toshiba, Fuji Electric Holdings Co., Shimizu Corp. (a general contractor) and Panasonic are reportedly interested in the collaboration. Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy -------------- ¶5. (U) The U.S.-Japan Joint Nuclear Energy Action Plan (JNEAP), signed in April 2007, provides a framework for increasing nuclear energy collaboration and builds upon the significant, long-standing civilian nuclear cooperation between the U.S. and Japan. The JNEAP contributes to increasing energy security and managing nuclear waste, addressing nuclear nonproliferation and climate change, and advancing the goals put forth in the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership initiative. The May 2009 MOU also details progress in nuclear energy cooperation, including research and development of sodium-cooled fast reactor technology and exploration of ways to collaborate on optimizing waste management systems. International Organizations -------------- ¶6. (U) The U.S. and Japan collaborate on energy initiatives in several multilateral fora. We coordinated closely in establishing the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency (IPEEC) to improve energy efficiency and share best practices as well as to reach out to non-IEA member countries such as China and Russia. We cooperate successfully with Japan in the Asia Pacific Partnership (APP),through the Steel, Cement, Transportation, Cleaner Fossil Fuels and PowerGen Task Forces. Progress continues through the sharing of best practices, peer reviews, and technical conferences. The U.S. and Japan also collaborate through the IEA, the International Energy Forum, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, and the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. Private Sector Collaboration -------------- ¶7. (U) Private sector and academic cooperation between U.S. and Japanese entities and individuals also remains robust. For example, Japan's Green IT Promotion Council, an industry-government-university partnership to promote energy-efficient information technology, entered into a strategic collaboration in May 2008 with the U.S. -based Climate Savers Computing Initiative and The Green Grid to advance widespread measures associated with green IT and energy efficiency in data centers. In the corporate sector, GE and Toshiba have an alliance on advanced energy technologies, such as high-efficiency gas-turbine combined cycle technology, while solar system manufacturers Sharp and Sanyo are targeting several strategic tie-ups with U.S. firms (ref B). ZUMWALT