Japan

The March 11, 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster has precipitated a world of change in Japan's nuclear power industry.

A June 2011 report, the joint effort of Bloomberg New Energy Finance and Danish firm Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY.PK) is aimed at identifying which corporations have voluntarily purchased significant amounts of renewable energy technologies, and which may be “greenwashing” their image.

Toshiba, (Other OTC: TOSBF.PK) one of the world’s most recognized manufacturers of electrical products, has announced a shift in its energy acquisition policy as it moves away from nuclear energy and into renewables.

Japan is slated to announce a new national solar mandate that would see all new buildings and houses be built with solar installations by 2030.

Using the natural disaster in Japan as a catalyst for change, Panasonic, (NYSE: PC) one of the largest manufacturers of consumer electronics, has announced its intention to pursue a sustainable future.

A report released by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows that investment in clean power projects could rise as high as US$2.3 trillion at the end of the next decade.  

Climate change is a topic that has steamrolled into mass consciousness, and the discourse gains more intensity daily.  There are multiple interests, parties, and positions all claiming legitimacy within the discussion. 

CIS thin-film developer Solar Frontier – a wholly owned subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (TYO:5002) – has announced a partnership with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to develop CZTS (copper, zinc, tin, sulfur and selenium) thin-films for the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.

Who says the world is not ready for the electric car?  Initial orders from the United States and Japan for the Nissan Leaf have outpaced production capacity.

So far 13,000 orders have been placed for the Leaf, Nissan's first all-electric automobile.

Electric Power Development Co. (TYO:9513), also known as J-Power, has teamed with Mitsubishi Materials Corp. (TYO:5711) and