According to The Asahi Shimbun, the industry ministry is taking actions to cut Japan's electricity generation by 10 percent by fiscal 2030.
It also plans to make nuclear energy and other non-fossil energy sources account for about 60 percent of the power output by bolstering renewables, according to sources.
These targets are expected to be incorporated into the new Basic Energy Plan, which may be unveiled as early as July 21. The plan is typically revised every three years, and the ministry has been working on the update to the plan.
Japan is ramping up efforts to meet its goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent from their level in fiscal 2013 by fiscal 2030.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14399451

 

According to The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane house prices could more than double by the time the 2032 Olympic Games roll around, taking median home values above $1.4 million, an economist predicts.
PRD chief economist Diaswati Mardiasmo said this growth rate would be consistent with the market’s past performance during the G20 summit in 2014 in Brisbane, when dwelling prices surged 112.7 per cent over 12 years from when the event was announced in 2003 to 2015, a year after it was held.
“If we use the growth rate to project the next 12 years, we can expect to see the Brisbane median house price could soar to nearly $1.5 million. Even if we only get half of that growth, house prices would still surge to at least $1.2 million when the Olympics roll along.”

https://www.afr.com/property/residential/olympics-to-fuel-brisbane-housing-boom-20210722-p58byy

According to The Nikkei Asia, automotive suppliers Asahi Kasei and JFE Steel have jumped onto the decarbonization bandwagon by developing processes that save energy and reduce the industry's carbon footprint.
Asahi Kasei, a chemical producer, is creating coating material for automotive steel sheets that can be applied at lower temperatures while maintaining conventional performance. The product could erase 300,000 tons of carbon output annually if adopted by the entire Japanese auto industry.
Coating is the most carbon-intensive auto production process due to the amount of heat involved. Automotive coating is normally baked on in drying furnaces set at 140 degrees Celsius. Asahi Kasei's new coats would lower the temperature to 80 C and decrease the number of baking sessions.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Environment/Climate-Change/New-paints-and-steels-squeeze-CO2-out-of-auto-production

According to The Asahi Shimbun, check-in and other procedures are rapidly being automated and rendered contactless at Tokyo's Haneda Airport to address health issues due to the COVID19 pandemic as well as personnel shortages.
With the summer break approaching, the second since the pandemic flared early last year, aviation industry officials are doing their utmost to reduce chances for passengers to interact with staff at the key gateway to Japan.
Air carriers also began bolstering their anti-virus measures in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics that kicked off July 23.
Japan Airlines Co. upgraded its automated check-in system at Terminal 1 for domestic flights this past spring. The system scans fingerprints with infrared rays, allowing passengers to operate it while holding their finger several centimeters from the screen.
A zero contact solution has also been introduced for the automatic baggage registration equipment put in service last year. This eliminates the need for people to line up at check-in counters to explain the content of their luggage to staff.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14390371

 

According to The Australian Financial Review, BHP has talked up its role in global decarbonisation after aligning itself with Elon Musk’s Tesla as part of a transition away from fossil fuels that could ultimately lead to the sale of its global oil and gas assets.
The resurgent BHP Nickel West division will supply electric vehicle-maker Tesla with the key battery-making material from its mines and refinery in Western Australia under a deal unveiled on Thursday that came with a broad commitment for BHP to work closely with Tesla on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The off-take agreement and collaboration commitments added fuel to fire that BHP is considering exiting oil and gas on top of the sale of remaining interests in energy coal mines.

https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/bhp-drives-home-nickel-supply-deal-with-tesla-20210722-p58bzz

 

According to The Nikkei Asia, the construction of large data centers is gathering speed in Japan, with Mitsui & Co. leading the private sector, after the government of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga committed to backing the development of key 5G network infrastructure in hopes of turning the nation into Asia's hub for such services.
Demand for data centers is soaring, but the supply had been limited by the shortage of appropriate construction sites and high electricity costs. The government is now trying to expand supply by offering financial support and tax incentives, as it views the development of such infrastructure as a national security priority.
Mitsui & Co. is expected to invest a total of 300 billion yen (US$2.7 billion) by 2026 in the development of new data centers and the acquisition of existing facilities. The trading house has joined forces with overseas investors to build three large facilities in three locations, including Kyoto and Chiba by 2026. The project is expected to cost 150 billion yen.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Mitsui-to-invest-2.7bn-to-develop-data-centers-in-Japan-by-2026

According to The Australian Financial Review, Sydney-based developer Ilya Melnikoff has followed through on his ambitions to acquire more trophy apartment sites in inner Melbourne, after his Luxcon Group snapped up the Beacon Cove Food Store site in Port Melbourne for $16.65 million.
It is Mr Melnikoff’s second Melbourne acquisition after Luxcon bought an old office building overlooking Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne in May last year that will make way for a $130 million development of 24 residences.
Unlike the residential skyscrapers developed by his uncle, Meriton boss Harry Triguboff, Mr Melnikoff favours smaller, boutique projects featuring larger apartments aimed at local downsizers.
He said there was a lot of demand for larger format residences and “true luxury apartments”.
“A lot of projects are marketed as luxury, but don’t deliver on that,” he said.
“Owner occupiers want larger apartment sizes and something with really luxurious finishes.”

https://www.afr.com/property/residential/luxcon-snaps-up-port-melbourne-site-for-luxury-apartments-20210713-p5899u

 

According to The Nikkei Asia, the Japanese government looks to have renewable energy generate almost 40% of the country's power in fiscal 2030 in the latest version of its electricity mix targets, bringing zero-emissions sources as high as 60% of the total.
Renewables -- particularly solar -- are set to make up between 36% and 38% of overall generation in the revised energy plan to be drafted Wednesday, up 14 points from the current goal, with nuclear remaining flat at 20% to 22%. The share from fossil fuels will be cut to 41% from 56% now.
The changes aim to tackle a major contributor to Japan's greenhouse gas emissions. Tokyo pledged in April to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 46% from fiscal 2013 levels by fiscal 2030.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Japan-aims-for-nearly-40-renewable-energy-by-fiscal-2030

 

According to The Asahi Shimbun, Japanese auto parts supplier Denso Corp. is working on a technology to recover carbon dioxide (CO2) from production processes as a renewable energy source that is expected to play a key role in realizing a carbon-free manufacturing industry.
Denso, one of Japan’s largest car component businesses, with an eye on commercializing the technology by 2030, plans to make its use common and contribute to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring “access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”
Yukihiro Shinohara, a senior executive officer at Denso, said during an online event in May that the company "will be heading toward a carbon-neutral factory system with the CO2 circulation technique.”
Denso, which was established in 1949 by spinning off the electric equipment department from what is now Toyota Motor Corp., installed the CO2 circulation plant in July last year on the grounds of its Anjo facilities in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture.
The plant retrieves CO2 generated by gas-based machines, so the collected CO2 and hydrogen are combined to produce methane for fuel. It was jointly created by Denso and Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc., another Toyota group firm in the prefecture’ s Nagakute.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14382787

 

According to The Australian Financial Review, the national power market operator has set itself the goal to be able to handle 100 per cent renewable energy on the grid by 2025 to avoid having to shut off some zero-cost wind and solar generation.
Daniel Westerman, who started as chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Operator on May 17, will use his first public address on Wednesday to outline the huge challenge ahead to get the National Electricity Market equipped to handle an all-renewables generation mix that is expected to occur from time to time within just four years.
Mr Westerman, an Australian who spent seven years at Britain’s National Grid before returning to run AEMO, will also point to the opportunity for a new era of economic prosperity for Australia, underpinned by plentiful cheap renewable energy.

https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/aemo-s-new-challenge-100pc-renewables-by-2025-20210712-p5891j