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