THE GRAPH
THE PARAGRAPH
Yes, we know. Japan is soooo 23 years ago. Actually, grasshopper, it’s poised to be the next giant market in renewable energy. Starting July 1, Tokyo’s government gives out billions of dollars in subsidies to anyone who generates or sells solar energy. It’s a generous subsidy; solar producers will get paid double what Germans get (per unit of energy); triple what the Chinese earn. Zooming back: the chart above is energy giant BP’s look into the future. The left side projects coal and natural gas remaining big-big players in electricity. But, whoa look right: the largest increase comes from renewables, including solar and windpower. A global carbon deal may not be in the offing right now. But incentives in Germany, Italy, China, the Czech Republic, California, and now Japan are nudging this market toward scale and respectability.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
