Electric power procurement rules for national government and independent administrative agencies; Renewable energy ratio to 35% or higher

Electric power procurement rules for national government and independent administrative agencies; Renewable energy ratio to 35% or higher

At an advisory committee held on Dec. 20, 2022, the Ministry of the Environment decided the details of a green contract policy including the electric power procurement rules for the national government and independent administrative agencies. One of the mainstays of the policy is to increase a ratio of renewable energy in procured electric power to 35% or higher in FY2023. It was decided in light of the results of public comments (collected opinions), based on the proposed revisions at the previous meeting. It will be approved by the cabinet in February.

A final draft was presented at the Review Meeting for Green Contract Act Basic Policy held on the same day and approved by the committee members. The decided policy defines an emission coefficient threshold for electric power procured, specifying 0.60 kg or lower per 1 kWh, 0.09 kg lower than the current rule.

The value, 0.60 kg or lower, has been calculated as consistent with the government’s renewable energy introduction goal in FY2030. The threshold will be lowered after FY2024 as well. A contract policy manual states that the threshold will be reviewed every other year or so.

At the meeting, the secretariat presented the topics to be discussed in FY2023, including a lower emission coefficient threshold, a response to the organizations not implementing the green contract, and so on. In FY2030, the next meeting will be held in early July.