Electric Industry to Boost Non-Fossil Energy Share to 50% by 2020

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) announced its goal to increase the use of non-fossil energy, including nuclear energy, from the current level of about 40 percent to 50 percent by fiscal 2020, at its chairman's press conference on May 23, 2008. The decision was made as part of the efforts to create a low-carbon society by electric companies, which includes ten FEPC member companies.

It plans to build additional nuclear reactors at new and existing sites. It also plans to improve the level of capacity utilization, which is lower than in other countries, while giving the highest priority to safety. For this objective, the FEPC will further step up its quality control and strive for safer and more reliable operations.

In terms of expanding the use of renewable energy, the FEPC estimates that existing grids can accept the interconnection of up to five million kilowatts of wind power, about three times the present level, and ten million kilowatts of solar power, about seven times the present level except for local collective installation. In the near term, the FEPC will continue purchasing surplus power from solar power systems.

Higher efficiency in energy consumption will also be promoted, by encouraging the use of high-efficiency electric appliances including heat pumps. The FEPC, in particular, aims to achieve the installation of ten million "Eco Cute" units, which is a water heating system using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, by fiscal 2020.


http://www.fepc.or.jp/english/news/conference/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2008/08//27/200805_s1.pdf
http://www.fepc.or.jp/english/index.html
http://www.fepc.or.jp/english/index.html

Posted: 2008/10/11 04:37:53 PM