- Japan’s largest thermal power operator Jera plans to phase out its coal-fired units with inefficient technology across its power plants, by 2030.
- The utility operates nine coal-fired power plants with total capacity of 7.3GW.
- Inefficient coal-fired power generation units may be shut by 2030 but will depend on the government.
- Most of Jera’s thermal power units are equipped with the latest clean coal technologies, such as integrated coal gasification combined cycle and ultra-super critical technology except two coal-fired power units, with total capacity of 1,400MW at Hekinan power complex.
Japan’s biggest power generator JERA said that it will shut down all inefficient coal-fired power plants in Japan by 2030 and it aims to achieve net zero emissions of carbon dioxide by 2050 to tackle climate change, reports Reuters.
Electricity from steam
JERA has classed all coal-fired power plants featuring “supercritical or older” technology as inefficient.
Japan is focusing on Ultra-Supercritical Coal (USC) power generation technology capable of generating electricity by making steam through coal combustion at higher temperatures and pressures.
It is estimated if this technology was applied to coal-fired power plants in the United States, China, and India, that the CO2 reduction effect would total 1.2 billion t/yr, equivalent to Japan’s annual CO2 emissions.
Entry ticket in the global market
JERA, which is a thermal power and fuel joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings and Chubu Electric Power, withheld the exact number of closures it plans.
“Setting these goals is an essential qualification for remaining to be an energy company and an entry ticket for doing business in the global market,” Hisahide Okuda, managing executive officer at JERA, told a news conference.
Closure of coal power plants
The Tokyo government, which is yet to provide its own definition of “inefficient,” revealed plans in July to accelerate the closure of older coal power plants by 2030.
The government plans to consider new rules, tax incentives and other measures to ensure Japan achieves its goal to lower coal’s share of the country’s power mix to 26% by 2030, from 32% now.
JERA also set 2050 as a target for zero emissions, saying it aims to boost renewable energy centred on offshore wind-power farms, and use ammonia and hydrogen at its thermal plants.
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Source: Reuters
