Analysts Consider Areas of US-Japan Collaboration for Energy, Environmental Risk Reduction

August 15, 2022 by Kate Michael
Analysts Consider Areas of US-Japan Collaboration for Energy, Environmental Risk Reduction
The Ippakutei, or “Teahouse of 100 Years,” at the Japanese Embassy, Washington, DC. (Photo by Eden Metzger)

WASHINGTON — The United States and Japan are two countries known for protecting and promoting leading-edge technologies, but given lessons learned over the past few years, “just having innovation is not sufficient,” according to Tatsuya Terazawa, chairman and CEO of the Institute of Energy Economics in Japan. Alliances are needed as well.

Speaking at a Wilson Center discussion focused on ways the U.S. and Japan could collaborate to increase mutual resiliency to geopolitical risks, Terazawa and others considered options to expand the production of energy sources, introduce resources to emerging markets, and even work together on storage technologies and a supply chain for critical minerals. 

“War in Ukraine has exposed our vulnerabilities,” Terazawa said. He cited a dependence on Russian energy as well as structural vulnerabilities due to COVID-19 as top energy supply pressures.

“Overdependence on a single supplier can be a potential energy security and national security challenge. It is important that we have alternate credible sources of energy.”

Japan and the U.S. appear to share common goals with a push for bilateral cooperation on clean energy and economy-strengthening efforts such as those highlighted at Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden’s summit in May 2022. 

At that meeting, the two leaders confirmed that Japan and the United States will be exploring economic security cooperations, including ensuring supply chain resilience, technology development, and other essential infrastructure protections. 

Wilson Center panelists went a bit further to consider which areas of cooperation could best promote energy security and environmental resilience while boosting American and Japanese economies under each country’s competitive advantage. 

The first area of potential collaboration the analysts suggested is in expanding the production and distribution of energy sources, including liquified natural gas and hydrogen. Japan, a pioneer in the introduction of LNG as early as 1969, continues to be a major importer of LNG, while LNG is one of the fastest growing exports of the U.S. 

“Even before the war in Ukraine, the world had very little spare capacity for natural gas and LNG,” Terazawa reminded. And even with European demand for LNG projected to decline in the future, new markets in Asia could open up rapidly given the infrastructure. 

“Asia would require the necessary technology and finance … to make this happen,” Terazawa said, adding that Japan has “substantial LNG technology and can also provide finance.”

But Japan also places a high priority on hydrogen, particularly given global desires for carbon neutrality. 

“Japan is the global leader in hydrogen-related technology” and could help expand the market for U.S.-produced hydrogen, he claimed.

“[Also] for countries who are serious about carbon neutrality, nuclear is an essential piece,” Terazawa said. “Especially following the Russian invasion, many countries are expanding their nuclear capacity.”

Expanding these markets would allow for greater U.S.-Japan cooperation in the integration of tech and infrastructure, which is the second area of potential collaboration according to Sherri Goodman, former U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Environmental Security).

Increasing collaboration on resilient infrastructure reconciles some needs of energy security with that of environmental resilience, Goodman claimed. 

“Part of becoming energy secure is also becoming climate resilient,” she said. “We cannot move to a decarbonized world without nuclear power and we cannot cede nuclear energy to Russia and China.”

This tech and infrastructure also extends to energy storage, of which Terazawa offered that Japan excels at innovating, while the U.S. has many prime areas for storage capacity. 

“[And] before it’s too late, the U.S. and Japan will have to cooperate on critical materials,” Terazawa said. “[This] will help many countries in the Indo-Pacific. I think we have a responsibility to provide for a … resilient supply chain for critical minerals.”

Kate can be reached at [email protected]

A+
a-
  • Energy
  • Japan
  • think tank
  • Wilson Center
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Geopolitics

    House Republicans and Democrats Say the US Must Maintain Its Troop Totals in Europe

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee voiced sharp bipartisan criticism Tuesday about reports... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee voiced sharp bipartisan criticism Tuesday about reports the Trump administration is eyeing a reduction of U.S. forces in Europe, saying America must stick with its NATO allies. Rep. Michael Rogers, R-Mich., the panel’s chairman,... Read More

    Change in Itinerary for US Vice President JD Vance Brings Cautious Relief for Greenland and Denmark

    Greenland and Denmark appeared cautiously relieved early Wednesday by the news that U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife are changing... Read More

    Greenland and Denmark appeared cautiously relieved early Wednesday by the news that U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife are changing their itinerary for their visit to Greenland Friday, reducing the likelihood that they will cross paths with residents angered by the Trump administration’s attempts to annex... Read More

    Arab Leaders Gather to Endorse Counterproposal to Trump's Gaza Plan, With Ceasefire's Fate Uncertain

    CAIRO (AP) — Arab leaders meeting in Cairo on Tuesday are set to endorse a counterproposal to U.S. President Donald... Read More

    CAIRO (AP) — Arab leaders meeting in Cairo on Tuesday are set to endorse a counterproposal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the Gaza Strip to be depopulated and transformed into a beach destination, even as the continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is uncertain. The summit hosted by... Read More

    EU Ponders €800B Plan to Beef Up Defenses to Counter Possible US Disengagement

    BRUSSELS (AP) — The chief of the European Union's executive on Tuesday proposed an 800 billion-euro ($841 billion) plan to... Read More

    BRUSSELS (AP) — The chief of the European Union's executive on Tuesday proposed an 800 billion-euro ($841 billion) plan to beef up the defenses of EU nations, aiming to lessen the impact of potential U.S. disengagement and provide Ukraine with military muscle to negotiate with Russia following the freeze... Read More

    February 5, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Trump Says US Should Take Over Gaza, Turn It Into ‘Riviera of Middle East’

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday night that the United States should take “ownership” of Gaza, turning it into... Read More

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday night that the United States should take “ownership” of Gaza, turning it into “the Riviera of the Middle East” after its population of 1.8 million Palestinians is moved to other countries in the region. “The only reason the Palestinians... Read More

    US Aid Was Long a Lifeline for Eastern Europe. Trump Cuts Are Sending Shockwaves Through the Region

    CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — President Donald Trump’s abrupt freeze of U.S. foreign aid is sending shockwaves through Eastern Europe, leaving... Read More

    CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — President Donald Trump’s abrupt freeze of U.S. foreign aid is sending shockwaves through Eastern Europe, leaving pro-democracy groups, independent media, civil society initiatives and local governments scrambling to make ends meet in a region often defined by rivalries between East and West.... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top