Following Japan's Fukushima disaster and its policy to reduce its dependence on coal, oil and natural gas, Japan is looking to invest substantially in renewables, including "burnable ice", Methane Hydrate. The Japanese government has announced plans for a pilot project that will see the use of methane hydrate as an alternative fuel source by 2020. However, the cost of extracting methane hydrate is extremely high and there are serious environmental risks to consider.
Following Japan's Fukushima disaster and its policy to reduce its dependence on coal, oil and natural gas, Japan is looking to invest substantially in renewables, including "burnable ice", Methane Hydrate. Japan has around 746 locations with deposits of methane hydrates that could provide the country with enough natural gas for the next 100 years at least. However, the cost of extracting methane hydrate is extremely high and there are serious environmental risks to consider.