Issues and Potentials of Local PPS in Realizing a Japanese Version of Stadtwerke

Abstract

This paper presented an overview of local power producers and suppliers (local PPS) that were established in Japan since the general liberalization of the retail electricity market, with particular focus on the current situation and issues of the local PPSs in terms of their operations and their renewable energy-related efforts. Further, this paper analyzed relevant cases in Ishikari city in Hokkaido, Karatsu city in Saga prefecture, and Sakura city in Chiba prefecture, to discuss and inform future efforts towards realizing a Japanese version of Stadtwerke.