Unlocking Opportunities in Japan’s Clean Energy Market: Insights from the EU Business Hub @ Smart Energy Week Spring 2025 Business Mission

Earlier this year, 44 innovative SMEs and start-ups from across the EU took part in the EU Business Hub’s business mission to Japan, held during the Smart Energy Week Spring 2025. The mission served as a strategic  entry point into one of the world’s most dynamic markets for clean energy and sustainability solutions.

From 17–21 February in Tokyo, the mission aimed to forge dynamic business partnerships between European and Japanese companies, promote knowledge exchange, and spotlight European firms — experts in energy systems, environmental monitoring, clean energy technologies, and circularity — as pivotal players in Japan's journey towards a low-carbon future. 
 

Laying the groundwork for success 

To equip participants for success in the Japanese market, the EU Business Hub delivered targeted market intelligence, cultural training, and on-the-ground briefings. These comprehensive sessions offered companies invaluable insights into Japanese business culture, empowering them to maximise their engagement and forge meaningful connections on the local market.

During the business mission, participants had the opportunity to attend a dynamic matching event co-organised with the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). Held at the Sakura Stage in Shibuya, the event brought together Japanese and European companies for one-on-one meetings and featured several pitching sessions, where both Japanese and European companies could respectively introduce their solutions.

The EU participants also exhibited for three days their solutions on the EU Pavilion at the Smart Energy Week, one of Japan’s premier events for renewable energy and clean technology. The event served as a high-visibility platform for participants to connect with potential partners, generate business leads, and raise awareness of European innovations in the Japanese market. 

With over a thousand B2B meetings facilitated during the mission, European companies had extensive opportunities to connect with relevant Japanese stakeholders and further boost their market prospects. Professional interpretation, booth support, and continuous coordination provided by the EU Business Hub helped ensure high-quality interactions throughout the event. 

Japan’s green and low-carbon technology industry focus

Japan is rapidly advancing toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. In 2022, its renewable energy market generated €32.3 billion in revenue, marking a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.1% from 2017 to 2022¹ . Going more in depth, Japan has recorded a 12.4% rise in clean power output in 2023 and Japan's utilities have boosted clean electricity output to the highest levels in several years in 2024 . The government continues to support growth through national strategies like the Green Growth Strategy, which promotes innovation in solar, geothermal, offshore wind, hydrogen, and carbon recycling technologies. Hydrogen, in particular, is expected to play a central role in the country’s clean energy transition, with Japan being one of the first countries globally to launch a national hydrogen strategy.

European companies had the opportunity to deep dive into local market dynamics, advertise their services and get hand-on insights from local stakeholders.

Looking Ahead: Join Us This Autumn

Following the success of the Spring 2025 mission, the EU Business Hub is preparing for its upcoming EU Business Hub @ Smart Energy Week Autumn 2025 business mission, taking place from 15 to 19 September, 2025.

This time, the focus will be on hydrogen technologies, with 50 European companies selected to exhibit at the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo— a strategic space designed to drive global partnerships in one of Japan’s most ambitious sectors. 

Interested companies can apply until 13 June 2025 through our website.

 

^{1Japan Renewable Energy Market Summary, Competitive Analysis and Forecast to 2027
2Japan set for clean power surge in 2024 | Reuters}