Shinsuke Inoue, CEO & President, TEPCO Renewable Power
As global energy demands continue to surge and environmental issues become more pressing, renewable energy has come to play a crucial role in sustainable development. Of all the sources, hydroelectric, wind, and solar power have been shown to be reliable and eco-friendly. Hydroelectricity, with its historical background and capacity for a consistent base-load supply, has been the keystone of modern power systems, especially in areas that are well-endowed with water supplies. Wind energy, originally confined to traditional uses such as sailing and milling, developed into a scalable and efficient means of electricity production due to improvements in turbines. At the same time, solar power - abundant, clean, and cost effective is also expanding rapidly through advances in photovoltaic devices. Together, these cleaner energy sources not only provide fossil-fuel alternatives but are also indispensable in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, stabilizing the electric grid, and securing energy for the future generations.
One such company dedicated solely to the renewable power business is TEPCO Renewable Power. The company offers more than just clean electricity and it leverages over a century of hydroelectric power expertise to provide comprehensive support and consulting services. This includes everything from power station construction to operation and maintenance, as well as engineer training and the quantitative evaluation of technical human resources.
Supplying Clean Electricity
The demand for electricity will rise in the world in the future as efforts proceed with digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX) while following the global move toward a carbon neutral society.
“To meet the growing demand for CO₂-free electricity, TEPCO Renewable Power, Inc. will draw on decades of expertise gained through the operation and maintenance of approximately 10 million kW of generation capacity nationwide. This includes end-to-end capabilities spanning development, planning, construction, and O&M of both hydroelectric power stations and wind farms,” says Shinsuke Inoue, CEO & President, TEPCO Renewable Power.
“This expertise will be leveraged to develop new renewable energy sources, enhance power generation both in Japan and abroad, and diversify our energy portfolio. At the same time, we aim to adopt emerging technologies and accelerate the transition to renewables as core power sources,” he adds.
Operating 163 Hydropower Plants
Hydroelectric power for Japan, which does not have natural resources, is an indigenous source of energy that is stable and eco-friendly. Operated by TEPCO Renewable Power, the TEPCO Group has a total of 163 hydroelectric power plants on the Tonegawa River system across Gunma and Tochigi prefectures, the Shinanogawa River system covering Nagano and Niigata prefectures, and the Sagamigawa River and Fujigawa River systems in Yamanashi Prefecture. The total output of the power plants stands at around 9.88 milllion kW of electricity.
In addition, in pursuing the creation of power plants within Japan and abroad that can generate a combined output of 6 - 7 million kW, in 2022 TEPCO Renewable Power purchased 25% of the issued shares of PT Kencana Energi Lestari, an Indonesian renewable energy company, and thus made it an affiliate.
TEPCO’s Wind Strategy and Solar power generation capabilities
The benefits of wind power are that it is effective in being converted into electricity and that it can run during both daytime and nighttime. The drawback, however, is that it relies on the magnitude of the wind. Since ancient times the wind energy has been utilized to drive windmills and sailing ships. The technology behind wind power generation is relatively simple and well-established. Wind is employed to rotate a windmill (propeller) that is connected directly with a generator producing electricity. Technology involved in wind power generation has evolved in the past few years, and costs have been minimized along with enlargement of equipment size. Economical power generation has become possible with this with favorable conditions like wind conditions.
TEPCO Renewable Power is committed to maximizing the potential of natural resources to deliver a stable, low-cost supply of CO₂-free electricity
Higashi Izu wind power plant, being TEPCO's first wind farm, began operation at Higashi Izu town and Kawazu town, Kamo district, Shizuoka Prefecture. The wind power plant located off the coast of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, was TEPCO's first commercial use wind power plant offshore. In the future the company will further increase its wind power business.
It is estimated that the quantity of solar power illuminating the Earth within a year equals about 90 trillion tons of coal. That is about 30,000 times global energy usage. When sunlight hits silicon semiconductors, it generates electricity. Solar power generation utilizes this phenomenon in converting the energy in light from sunlight directly into electric power. The level of solar power utilization in Japan has increased consistently in recent years and the cumulative figure had risen to around 42 million kW as of the close of FY2016. TEPCO owns three mega solar power plants including the Ukishima Solar Power Plant (capacity: 7,000 kW).
The Journey Ahead
In addition to transforming its business foundation through the use of data analytics, AI, and other advanced technologies to enable smart operation and maintenance, TEPCO also plans to develop new business models tailored to meet the evolving and diverse needs of its customers.
TEPCO Renewable Power is committed to maximizing the potential of natural resources to deliver a stable, low-cost supply of CO₂-free electricity. By promoting the widespread adoption of renewable energy both in Japan and internationally, the company aims to contribute to global carbon neutrality, support the growth of locally rooted industries, and help build a clean, sustainable society.
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