[Report] Participation in the UN 24/7 CFE Annual Session: Progress and Perspectives from Japan — Way Forward

I would like to share a brief update on my participation in the UN 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (24/7 CFE) Annual Session, where I contributed perspectives as CEO of D-Sharing and the Hourly Matching Promotion Council.

The session was held in New York on September 25, 2025, as an official side event of UNGA80 under the SDG7 Action Forum, hosted by SEforALL. It brought together policymakers, corporates, and technical experts to discuss how 24/7 CFE can be implemented in practice.

Throughout the discussions, there was a strong shared understanding that the transition is not only about increasing clean energy supply, but also about ensuring a fair and inclusive pathway while maintaining system reliability and affordability.

From Japan’s standpoint, I highlighted the importance of a phased approach. Moving directly to strict hourly matching requirements without sufficient system readiness may create unintended challenges. Instead, aligning stakeholders—generators, retailers, corporates, grid operators, and regulators—step by step is essential for sustainable implementation.

The panel also included representatives from EnergyTag, the LDES Council, Iberdrola, and TransitionZero. Across the discussion, key themes emerged, including the need for robust data systems, the role of storage and digital technologies, and the importance of corporate demand in driving investment signals.

The session further illustrated the growing scale of impact, with 24/7 CFE Compact participants contributing significant volumes of carbon-free electricity through procurement, generation, and enabling services. Notably, enabling services such as system design and data infrastructure play a critical role in supporting this transition.

Overall, the discussions reflected that 24/7 CFE is moving from concept toward implementation. At the same time, it is clear that progress will depend on careful design, coordination, and adaptation to regional conditions.

We look forward to continuing this dialogue and working together with all stakeholders going forward.