Energy

From nuclear to solar: supporting the transition of Japan’s electricity system

Macquarie’s expertise in renewables and infrastructure is helping the world’s fourth largest economy transition from nuclear to renewable energy.

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Sector	Energy
Sub-sector	Infrastructure
Location	Japan

Opportunity

The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster had a profound effect on Japanese energy policy. Nuclear reactors generated 30 per cent of the nation’s electricity at that time, but since then the Japanese Government has reformed its electricity system in favour of renewable energy generation.

An ambitious target of 22-24 per cent renewable energy by 2030 was introduced and a feed-in tariff was implemented to support the development of green projects. The feed-in tariff has been revised over time to reflect improved efficiency and reducing costs, and the scheme remains successful.

Approach

As one of the world’s leading green energy investors and advisers, Macquarie is supporting Japan’s energy market transition in several ways.

We have established a development platform, Acacia Renewables, to develop a portfolio of wind projects in Japan. Both directly and through local partnerships with leading market participants, including Maeda Corporation and three of the five largest global panel manufacturers, we are progressing a pipeline of wind and solar projects in excess of 1GW.

We are working with communities to ensure local benefits from the development of our projects and to ensure safe and responsible operation of our projects for the long term. Our development team in Japan includes engineers, developers, procurement specialists and construction and operating supervisors.

We are at the forefront of opening up new sources of capital to fund green energy projects. In 2017, we were appointed as Joint Lead Manager and Joint Bookrunner on the IPO of Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), Japan’s largest listed infrastructure fund to date. The listing of CSIF provided a unique opportunity for retail and international capital to invest in the Japanese green energy sector.

Securing Japan’s solar future

By the end of 2019, Japan had become the world’s third largest solar market, with projected installed capacity of 63.9 GW, providing approximately seven percent of its annual power generation. Macquarie’s portfolio of solar farms totals more than 300MW in potential installed capacity - enough to power around 93,000 homes. When we incorporate this with our broader renewable energy portfolio in Japan, the partnerships we have formed with local companies is expected to generate a pipeline of more than 1GW, enough electricity to power around 475,000 households.

Through our holistic approach to solar energy and our ability to draw on expertise in infrastructure and renewables more broadly, we’re helping to build a thriving green industry in Japan.

Outcome

“We are strongly positioned to help diversify the range of energy options available to consumers and businesses across the country through delivering renewable energy projects to meet Japan’s long term energy aspirations."

Jun Ohashi, Head of Macquarie Capital Japan

300MW

generated from Macquarie's solar projects

~93,000

homes powered

$US159 million

Japan's largest infrastructure IPO

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Macquarie Capital

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