TOKYO — A government-commissioned panel of experts Wednesday largely supported Japan’s new energy policy for the next few years that calls for bolstering renewables up to half of electricity needs by 2040 while maximizing the use of nuclear power as the country seeks to accommodate the growing power demand in the era of AI while meeting decarbonization targets.

The Industry Ministry presented the draft plan for final review by the panel of 16 mostly pro-nuclear members from business, academia and civil groups. It calls for maximizing the use of nuclear energy, reversing a phaseout policy adopted after the meltdown crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in 2011 that led to extensive displacement of residents and lingering anti-nuclear sentiment.

The plan is due to receive Cabinet approval by March after a period of consultation and will then replace the current energy policy, which dates from 2021. The new proposal says nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040, up from 8.5% last year, while expanding renewables to 40 % to 50% from 22.9% and reducing coal-fired power to 30% to 40% from nearly 70% last year.

The current plan for 2030 set a 20% to 22% target for nuclear energy, 36% to 38% for renewables and 41% for fossil fuel.

Demand for low-carbon energy, such as renewables and nuclear, is growing because of the demand from data centers using AI and semiconductor factories around the country.

Japan has set a goal of achieving net zero emissions of climate-warming gases by 2050 and a 73% reduction by 2040 compared to 2013 levels.

The draft energy plan places renewables as the main power source and calls for development of next-generation energy sources, such as solar batteries and portable solar panels.

The plan also calls for acceleration of the restarts of reactors that meet the post-Fukushima safety standards and proposes construction of next-generation reactors.