The U.S., Japan, and the Future of Renewable Energy

On March 21, 2016, Sasakawa USA in partnership with the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, hosted The U.S., Japan, and the Future of Renewable Energy: A bilaterally-focused workshop designed to understand the various means currently employed for generating, storing and distributing renewable energy, to include potential opportunities for cooperation as well as obstacles. Energy security is a concern for both countries, and cooperation on this issue represents another means by which to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Both countries are undergoing profound change in these spheres, driven in the U.S. by the shale gas revolution and in Japan by the March 11, 2011 events that led to the shutdown of Japan’s nuclear industry. Demand for energy has increased throughout the world, which, in turn, gives rise to a host of associated problems, including increased CO2 emissions, competition for finite energy sources, and climate change.

Japan and the U.S. share a special responsibility in this regard given their advanced technologies and high proficiency in science that together can help move economies toward a greener, more sustainable, future. This workshop brought together government officials, experts from academia and the non-profit sector, and business people to exchange frank opinions and share best practices on renewable technologies and various phases of energy production, storage, and use. Through such interaction, it is hoped that existing barriers to cooperation can be overcome and development of economically viable renewable technology can be accelerated.

Click here to read an event recap.

Speakers

• Carleton Cramer, Dean, College of Security Studies, DKI-APCSS
• Admiral Dennis Blair, Chairman and CEO, Sasakawa USA
• Ali Izadi-Najafabadi, Head of Japan, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
• Jane Nakano, Senior Fellow, Energy and National Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Wataru Ikushima, Deputy General Manager, Domestic Power Projects Department, Marubeni Corporation
• Mike Callahan, Senior Project Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Mark Glick, Administrator, Hawaii State Energy Office
• Osamu Maekawa, Corporate Executive Vice President, Toshiba Corporation
• Jeff Gates, Director of Sales and Field Operations, Alevo; Chairman, Energy Storage Association
• Russ Weed, VP Business Development & General Counsel, UniEnergy Technology
• Richard Rocheleau, Director, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii
• Dr. George Kailiwai III, Director, Resources and Assessment (J8), United States Pacific Command
• Jeff Miller, Director, Department of Energy Japan Office, US Embassy Tokyo
• Yuichiro Sugawara, Energy Business Manager, Rakuten, Inc.
• Toshiro Okada, Senior Energy Advisor, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Jay Ignacio, President, Hawaii Electric Light Company

Photos

Photos by Agusto Murrillo, DKI APCSS