From June 2025 through May 2026, fossil fuels supplied almost two-thirds of Japan’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources supplied about 35%. Gas accounted for roughly 30% and coal for 28%, with oil contributing another 2%. Among clean electricity sources, solar led with about 11%, followed by nuclear at roughly 9%, hydropower at 8%, biofuels at 5%, and wind at just over 1%. Japan therefore remains heavily dependent on fossil electricity, leaving considerable scope to expand low-carbon generation and reduce the climate-changing emissions and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Japan?

The latest figures do not show Japan reaching new electricity consumption highs. In 2026, consumption stood at about 7,900 kWh per person, roughly 1,240 kWh—or 14%—below the 2010 record of about 9,130 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 2,780 kWh per person, approximately 770 kWh—or 22%—below its 1998 peak of about 3,540 kWh. These comparisons do not establish whether consumption rose or fell in the latest year, but they do reveal a substantial shortfall from historical highs, especially for clean electricity. Rebuilding and expanding that supply is important for future electrification and growing electricity demand from AI.

Suggestions

Japan can build on solar’s already substantial contribution by expanding rooftop and larger-scale installations, alongside stronger grids and storage. The US state of California, where solar supplies about 31% of electricity, and Australia, at about 21%, offer useful examples of scaling solar generation. Nuclear should also play a larger role: nearby South Korea generates about a quarter of its electricity from nuclear, while France generates roughly two-thirds, illustrating the contribution an expanded nuclear fleet can make. Wind provides another opportunity, with the United Kingdom and Ireland—relevant island-region comparisons—generating about 30% and 35% of their electricity from wind respectively. Combining expanded solar, nuclear, and wind would help Japan increase clean electricity rather than remain reliant on fossil generation.

History

Japan’s low-carbon electricity history includes strong nuclear growth followed by major setbacks and partial recoveries. Nuclear generation increased by about 28 TWh in 1978, with further annual gains of roughly 20–25 TWh in several years during the 1980s and early 1990s; in 1994, a 20 TWh nuclear gain partly offset a 30 TWh hydropower decline. The 2000s were uneven: nuclear output fell by a combined 80 TWh in 2002–2003, recovered by about 65 TWh in 2004–2005, dropped by 40 TWh in 2007, and rose by 22 TWh in 2009. The exceptionally large reductions in 2011–2012 totaled about 272 TWh—a deeply disappointing loss of low-carbon electricity that underscores the importance of restoring and expanding clean generation. Subsequent nuclear gains of 32 TWh in 2018 and 26 TWh in 2023 were encouraging, although a 21 TWh decline in 2020 interrupted that recovery.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jun 2025 – May 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.