New Energy Industrial Forum

�@�@The New Energy Industrial Forum is a consultative body of the NEF Chairman and submits policy proposals to the government with the aim of having the collective views of the private sector incorporated into the various systems designed to promote the development and practical utilization of new energy technology. Coming under the Forum are nine committees and one subcommittee comprising, among others, new energy systems manufacturers, public utilities and prominent members of the industrial and academic communities.
�@�@For its fiscal 1998 proposals, on March 11, 1998, the Forum deliberated on proposals on promoting introduction of power generation from waste, phosphoric acid fuel cells, coal energy, cogeneration, wind power generation, photovoltaic power generation and indigenous energy, submitting the proposals to the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy and other related bodies on March 19. As of this occasion, the timing of the Forum was moved forward from the usual period of May to enable proposal contents to be reflected in the budget for the following fiscal year. An outline of proposals for fiscal 1998 is as follows.

Useful Application of Waste

(1) Technological development for better efficiency of conventional waste power generation.
(2) Further application of energy from waste.
(3) Further enhancement of the subsidy assistance scheme.

Fuel Cells

(1) Expansion and strengthening of subsidy system.
(2) Deregulation and development of infrastructure for introduction and dissemination.

Coal Energy

(1) Further promotion of advanced coal utilization technology such as efficient combustion.
(2) Active cooperation for coal utilization in developing nations.

Cogeneration

(1) Further introduction among local and central governments.
(2) Enhance infrastructure establishment, including enhanced subsidy measures.

Wind Energy

(1) Better understanding and cooperation of the Japanese people regarding clean energy to allow
introduction of large scale wind farm.
(2) Implementation of cost cutting measures.
(3) Enhancement of subsidy policy.

Solar Energy

(1) Proceed with assistance scheme to promote introduction of residential photovoltaic systems.
(2) Fortify subsidy schemes to promote introduction in public facilities.
(3) Enhance subsidy schemes to promote introduction in industrial fields.
(4) Assistance in cutting costs for photovoltaic systems.
(5) Deregulation including a review of the Building Standards Act.
(6) Strengthen overseas dissemination scheme.

Indigenous Energy

(1) Promotion of combined use of indigenous energy and establishment of infrastructure.
(2) Comprehensive assessment with consideration to environmental impact.
(3) Creation of an economic system in harmony with the environment.

�©back to Contents of Activity Report