CO2 Emissions from Electric Industry Up by 3% in FY2005

On September 22, 2006, the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) announced the results of a follow-up review on the electric power industry's Environmental Action Plan at a regular press conference. They reported that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in fiscal 2005 were 375 million tons, up 3.0 percent from the previous year, as the CO2 emission intensity (CO2 emissions per kilowatt hour of end use) was 0.425 kg, up from the previous year's figure of 0.421 kg.

The reason for the increase in CO2 emission intensity is that thermal generation had to be increased to make up for a decline in hydro generation due to water shortages, as well as to meet increased demand caused by record cold winter temperatures, despite improvement in the capacity utilization rates of nuclear power plants, which resulted in an increase of power generation.

Aiming to reduce CO2 emission intensity to 0.34 by 2010, about 20 percent down from the fiscal 1990 level, the FEPC intends to increase nuclear power capacity utilization rates and to introduce LNG combined cycle thermal power plants and highly efficient coal-fired generating facilities. It is predicted that the figure in fiscal 2010 will be about 0.36, higher than the reduction target, as the number of new nuclear power plants expected to be built has decreased.

The FEPC is promoting Kyoto mechanisms, such as international biomass generating and methane recovery operations, and expects these efforts to lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions.


Posted: 2007/01/29 09:35:26 AM
Japanese version