METI State Minister Ota Visits Munich, Germany

1. Japan’s past efforts for international collaboration in e-fuels

Japan, as the G7 chair in 2023, confirmed the importance and roles of e-fuels with other G7 member countries and included them in G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ communiqué.

Moreover, taking the occasion of the G7 Digital Ministerial Meeting held in Gunma Prefecture in April 2023, Mr. Nishimura Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Minister Wissing held a meeting and agreed that Japan and Germany would collaborate in proactively executing leadership in international discussions on e-fuels.

2. Attending the E-Fuels Conference

Against this backdrop, on September 4 (Mon.), the E-Fuels Conference hosted by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport of Germany was held in Munich, Germany, and State Minister Ota attended it as a representative of Japan, the G7 chair in 2023.

This conference, which was held for the first time, focused on e-fuels, and provided an opportunity for participating countries to multilaterally exchange views.

Around 80 stakeholders from the public, industry, and academic sectors in 11 countries, including Germany, Japan, the Czech Republic and Morocco, participated in the conference. They held discussions and shared knowledge on e-fuels, including utilization of e-fuels on different modes of transport, e.g., air, marine, and land transportation, potentials and challenges for production, and approaches for comprehensive availability.

State Minister Ota delivered a keynote speech and stated three advantages of using e-fuels: [i] a means reducing GHG emissions from a wide range of sectors, including the global fleet, [ii] their ease of storage and transport, and [iii] a means utilizing existing fuel infrastructure. In addition, as a future approach, she raised the need to solve challenges such as carbon accounting involving the transfer of carbon dioxide and standardization of the quality of e-fuels through international collaboration.

In light of the importance of e-fuels, some participants made the following suggestions: [i] the technology for manufacturing e-fuels already exists and is applicable to ships, aircrafts, and existing automobiles; [ii] institutional frameworks and support from governments are expected to make demand stable, scale up production, and reduce production costs; and [iii] it is important to make efforts to share technological knowledge with countries that have inexpensive renewable energy and to lower trade barriers.

Before the conference closed, the participants confirmed some key points, including the need for e-fuels in achieving carbon neutrality, the importance of raising public awareness and securing international rules for and the quality of e-fuels, and expectations for advancing ongoing discussions under international collaboration triggered by this conference.

3. Meeting with Minister Wissing, Germany

State Minister Ota held a meeting with Minister Wissing of Germany, which hosted the E-Fuels Conference, and the two sides exchanged views on some issues, including international collaboration to raise public awareness of e-fuels, carbon accounting involving the international transfer of carbon dioxide, standardization of the quality of e-fuels, and decarbonization in automobile sector. The ministers also confirmed that Japan and Germany will collaborate to encourage ongoing international dialogue.

4. Meeting with Minister Kupka, the Czech Republic

State Minister Ota held a meeting with Minister Kupka of the Czech Republic, and explained the importance of the range of pathways for decarbonization. Minister Kupka welcomed investment by Japan in the Czech Republic and stated that e-fuels are an indispensable technology for the transportation sector, including ships and aircrafts.

5. Attending the opening ceremony for the international mobility festival called IAA Mobility 2023 and visiting booths

State Minister Ota participated in the opening ceremony for the international mobility festival called IAA Mobility 2023, which started on September 5, 2023, and visited some booths of Japanese companies.

6. Exchanging views with the representatives of Japanese companies and other entities developing business in Germany

State Minister Ota held meetings with the representatives of Japanese companies and other entities developing business in Germany and exchanged views on these companies’ strategies for carbon neutrality and the current state of and challenges in their business in Europe.

Division in Charge

• Fuel Supply Infrastructure Policy Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
• Automotive Industry Strategy Office, Automobile Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau