Japan’s JERA, Kobe Steel Launch Gas, Coal Fired Power Plants
- February 1, 2023
- Posted by: Quatro Strategies
- Category: Energy
Japan’s biggest power generator JERA and its third largest steelmaker Kobe Steel announced they launched two power plants, a natural gas fired and a coal fired, respectively. The announcements came as Japan have been facing tight power capacity while trying to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050. The country has started to add ammonia to coal-fired plants to reduce emissions and looking for other options, as environmental groups criticize the government for building more fossil fuel-fired power plants.
JERA, one of the world’s largest buyers of LNG, said on Wednesday its new gas-fired unit at Anegasaki thermal power station near Tokyo has a generating capacity of 650 MW.
The company plans to launch two more new units at the same site in April and August.
Meanwhile, Kobe Steel, has also said it launched its coal-fired unit 4 with a capacity of 650 MW at Kobe power station near Osaka, to supply Kansai Electric Power Co.
Japan, one of the world’s biggest energy importers, is looking to ramp up domestic production of cleaner fuels, including ammonia and hydrogen, while developing carbon capture projects, as it moves towards its goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, on par with other developed nations.
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