goal of Germany’s energy transition is mainly to
phase out nuclear power and fossil fuels by 2050.
After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, the
German government decided to shut down
nuclear reactors permanently and make wind and
solar power the basis of Germany’s future
low-carbon energy system. As Stephan Kohler
pointed out in 2000, 5% of Germany’s then
energy consumption came from renewables,
especially hydropower. By the end of 2016, this
had risen to 33%, with solar power especially
registering explosive growth.
1.3.2 Timelines of the Energy
Revolutions
Starting with the discovery of North Sea oil in
1968, the UK’s natural gas revolution can be
divided into two stages. In stage 1 from 1968 to
1990, the supply of natural gas grew dramatically. It was used mainly by households and
industry, with a very small amount used for
power generation. In 1991, a large gas field with
sufficient reserves for 15 years was discovered
along the North Sea coast, marking the outset of
stage 2 of the UK’s energy revolution. The UK
government increased the use of natural gas in
power generation, which far exceeded that used
by industry.
Japan’s energy revolution began in 1960. It is
now going through its third energy transition.
The first transition, from 1960–73, substituted oil
for coal. As a result of the first oil crisis, Japan
underwent a second transition, from oil to gas
and nuclear power, from 1973–2011, which is
the focus of this report. The third transition took
place after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, when
Japan started to phase out nuclear power.
The first oil crisis also triggered France’s
transition to nuclear power from 1974. In June
2017, Nicolas Hulot, French energy and environment minister, announced that the government planned to shut down several nuclear
reactors. The move was intended to decrease the
share of nuclear power in total power output
from 75% to 50%, but the timeline remained
unclear.
In 2000, Germany embarked on a transition to
renewable energy. In September 2010, the
minister responsible for the Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Energy announced Germany’s medium- and long-term energy policies
and identified the energy transition targets for
2050.
1.3.3 Pathway Options for Energy
Revolution
The UK discovered North Sea oil when its
domestic energy resources were scarce. The first
oil crisis accelerated drilling and exploitation in
the North Sea and escalated the use of natural
gas. The UK’s energy revolution was therefore
driven by resource shock.
During the first oil crisis, oil prices soared and
the cost of oil-fired power generation in France
and Japan spiralled. High oil consumption and a
lack of domestic resources forced the two countries to carry out an energy revolution. France has
few oil, coal and gas resources, but relatively
abundant uranium ore. France decided to transition to nuclear power, while Japan chose to
replace oil with gas and nuclear power.
Germany spearheaded the transition from
high-carbon to low-carbon energy to reduce air
pollution from fossil fuels and to strengthen energy
security. The transition to renewable energy is now
a common trend in energy revolutions.
1.4 Pathways to Energy Revolution
1.4.1 Economic Development, Energy
Security and Environmental
Protection
According to the above analysis of energy revolutions in four countries, the UK, France and
Japan sought an energy transition before and
after the first oil crisis due to a lack of domestic
energy resources. They needed to limit the
potential impacts of an energy supply shortage
on their economies and energy security. Germany’s energy supply revolution occurred relatively late. In addition to economic development
and energy security, Germany also took environmental pollution from fossil fuels into consideration, and eventually decided to point its
energy revolution towards renewable energy.
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W. Xiaoming et al.
phase out nuclear power and fossil fuels by 2050.
After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, the
German government decided to shut down
nuclear reactors permanently and make wind and
solar power the basis of Germany’s future
low-carbon energy system. As Stephan Kohler
pointed out in 2000, 5% of Germany’s then
energy consumption came from renewables,
especially hydropower. By the end of 2016, this
had risen to 33%, with solar power especially
registering explosive growth.
1.3.2 Timelines of the Energy
Revolutions
Starting with the discovery of North Sea oil in
1968, the UK’s natural gas revolution can be
divided into two stages. In stage 1 from 1968 to
1990, the supply of natural gas grew dramatically. It was used mainly by households and
industry, with a very small amount used for
power generation. In 1991, a large gas field with
sufficient reserves for 15 years was discovered
along the North Sea coast, marking the outset of
stage 2 of the UK’s energy revolution. The UK
government increased the use of natural gas in
power generation, which far exceeded that used
by industry.
Japan’s energy revolution began in 1960. It is
now going through its third energy transition.
The first transition, from 1960–73, substituted oil
for coal. As a result of the first oil crisis, Japan
underwent a second transition, from oil to gas
and nuclear power, from 1973–2011, which is
the focus of this report. The third transition took
place after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, when
Japan started to phase out nuclear power.
The first oil crisis also triggered France’s
transition to nuclear power from 1974. In June
2017, Nicolas Hulot, French energy and environment minister, announced that the government planned to shut down several nuclear
reactors. The move was intended to decrease the
share of nuclear power in total power output
from 75% to 50%, but the timeline remained
unclear.
In 2000, Germany embarked on a transition to
renewable energy. In September 2010, the
minister responsible for the Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Energy announced Germany’s medium- and long-term energy policies
and identified the energy transition targets for
2050.
1.3.3 Pathway Options for Energy
Revolution
The UK discovered North Sea oil when its
domestic energy resources were scarce. The first
oil crisis accelerated drilling and exploitation in
the North Sea and escalated the use of natural
gas. The UK’s energy revolution was therefore
driven by resource shock.
During the first oil crisis, oil prices soared and
the cost of oil-fired power generation in France
and Japan spiralled. High oil consumption and a
lack of domestic resources forced the two countries to carry out an energy revolution. France has
few oil, coal and gas resources, but relatively
abundant uranium ore. France decided to transition to nuclear power, while Japan chose to
replace oil with gas and nuclear power.
Germany spearheaded the transition from
high-carbon to low-carbon energy to reduce air
pollution from fossil fuels and to strengthen energy
security. The transition to renewable energy is now
a common trend in energy revolutions.
1.4 Pathways to Energy Revolution
1.4.1 Economic Development, Energy
Security and Environmental
Protection
According to the above analysis of energy revolutions in four countries, the UK, France and
Japan sought an energy transition before and
after the first oil crisis due to a lack of domestic
energy resources. They needed to limit the
potential impacts of an energy supply shortage
on their economies and energy security. Germany’s energy supply revolution occurred relatively late. In addition to economic development
and energy security, Germany also took environmental pollution from fossil fuels into consideration, and eventually decided to point its
energy revolution towards renewable energy.
46
W. Xiaoming et al.