The government has announced that it aims to create a zero-carbon society by 2050, but the path to achieving this goal will be a rocky one. While the widespread use of renewable energy will be essential, there is disquiet about the ability of solar and wind power to provide a stable supply of electricity to support the Japanese economy, given that intermittency in supply will inevitably occur at times when they cannot generate power. It would be fair to say that thermal power generation is a practical option for making up for the intermittency. High-efficiency third-generation thermal power technology could hold one of the keys to bringing a zero-carbon future to fruition.