Energy & Environmental Technology

DENSO and the University of Tokyo signed a 10-year partnership starting April 2026 centered on Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). Learn how charging EVs while driving could shrink batteries, cut costs, and reshape energy infrastructure — plus how Japan's approach compares to Sweden, Israel, and the US.

Sekisui Chemical has officially launched SOLAFIL, Japan's first commercially produced film-type perovskite solar cell. Lightweight and flexible enough for walls and curved surfaces, this next-gen technology positions Japan at the forefront of the global perovskite race against Chinese and European rivals.

AT Tokyo and elleThermo successfully demonstrated waste heat power generation using Semiconductor-Sensitized Thermal Cells (STC) in a live data center. This Science Tokyo-born technology generates electricity directly from low-grade heat at just 30-40°C — no temperature differential required. A look at how this could reshape data center energy efficiency amid soaring AI power demands.

Japanese fusion startup Helical Fusion announces the construction site for its demonstration device 'Helix HARUKA' Phase 1, while completing critical coil case components with precision manufacturer Ryoki Tool. Explore how Japan's unique helical stellarator approach and the HTS superconductor boom are reshaping the global fusion race.

Toyota announces mass production of water electrolysis systems by 2029, developed with Chiyoda Corporation. With 5MW domestic and 20MW international units, Toyota bets on hydrogen alongside EVs and hybrids. How Japan's multi-pathway strategy compares to the global EV-first approach.

Asahi Kasei has begun installing its Aqualyzer C3 containerized alkaline water electrolyzer in Jyväskylä, Finland — the country's first commercial hydrogen station. Backed by a Toyota-linked foundation, this marks a significant entry for Japanese electrolyzer technology into the Nordic green hydrogen market dominated by European giants like Siemens Energy and Nel ASA.

Japanese fusion startup Helical Fusion has announced that Phase 1 of its final demonstration device Helix HARUKA will be built at the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS). With energization tests planned for 2027, the company is betting on Japan's unique helical approach to beat global rivals including Commonwealth Fusion Systems and TAE Technologies in the race to commercial fusion power.

Chiba Prefecture sits atop an estimated 500-year supply of iodine—the key material in Japan-invented perovskite solar cells. If combined, they could form a fully domestic energy cycle. We break down the potential and the hurdles standing in the way.

Panasonic's glass-type perovskite solar cells will be installed on the exterior of Hankyu Hanshin Properties' new headquarters—a first for new office buildings in Japan. This landmark step brings Japan-invented next-generation BIPV solar technology closer to mainstream adoption, in a building already certified ZEB Ready and DBJ Green Building 5-Star.