[Japan] Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Announced Three Electricity Rate Plans in Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Chugoku, and Shikoku regions

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), headquartered in Tokyo, announced on November 12, 2019, that it would expand its electricity rate plans to include residential customers outside of its existing service areas in regions such as Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Chugoku, and Shikoku regions from November 13, 2019.

TEPCO provides residential customers with three electricity rate plans. The Standard S and Standard L plans are available in the Hokkaido and Hokuriku regions, and the Standard A plan is available in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. When compared to the existing prices provided by the incumbent utility companies in each area, the TEPCO rate plans will save each customer about 3% of their electricity costs.

In Japan, the retail electricity market has been completely deregulated since April 1, 2016, and consumers—including households and businesses—are allowed to freely choose their retail electricity providers and rate plans.  Since then, TEPCO has been providing discount electricity rate plans for residential customers in the Chubu and Kansai regions, and in the Tohoku and Kyushu regions since August 2019. Currently, the company offers services nationwide except in Okinawa Prefecture.[1]

[1] http://www.tepco.co.jp/ep/notice/pressrelease/2019/1520325_8664.html

[Japan] Kansai Electric Power Company Will Conduct a Demonstration Test on the Frequency Control of a Power System Using Storage Batteries

Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO, Headquarters: Osaka Prefecture) announced on November 29, 2019, that a total of 10 companies including KEPCO will conduct a demonstration test on the frequency control of a power system using storage batteries. The test will run from December 2, 2019 to January 31, 2020. It will integrate the battery control system “K-LIBRA” with 8 different storage batteries produced separately by each battery manufacturer. “K-LIBRA” was jointly developed by KEPCO and NEC, a major Tokyo-based IT and electronics company.[1]

The demonstration test will examine the battery control system’s ability to remotely control all of the tested batteries with the fast charge-discharge capability. It also validates the performance of the system’s response capabilities for short cycle load fluctuations by analyzing the response time and the control accuracy of batteries in response to the signal emitted from “K-LIBRA.”  Furthermore, the demonstration test evaluates the effectiveness of the system’s additional functions to maximize the frequency control capabilities. Based on the test results, KEPCO aims to commercialize the battery control system in fiscal year (FY) 2020.

In early 2019, KEPCO, ELIIY Power (a Tokyo-based company that develops high capacity batteries[2]), and Sansha Electric Manufacturing Co. (an Osaka-based company machinery manufacturer[3]) completed a preliminary demonstration test to collectively and remotely control the charge-discharge performance for a total of 10,000 storage batteries in response to short cycle frequency fluctuations in the power system.[4]

The project is funded by the Agency for Natural Resources under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), through its FY2018 Demonstration Project on Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Utilizing Demand Side Energy Resources.[5]

[1] https://jpn.nec.com/profile/corp/outline.html

[2] https://www.eliiypower.co.jp/company/index.html

[3]http://www.sansha.co.jp/user_data/company/company.php?transactionid=5642f6fe202e98ff6d6489c915b7eef78fe1a2e8

[4] https://www.kepco.co.jp/souhaiden/pr/2019/0522_1j.html

[5] https://www.kepco.co.jp/souhaiden/pr/2019/1129_1j.html

［USA］ Elizabeth Warren Unveils ‘Blue New Deal’ With Support for Offshore Wind

On December 10, 2019, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren announced an environmental proposal that recommends a variety of ocean-related conservation and energy plans titled the “Blue New Deal.” [1] One of the primary focuses of Warren’s proposal is how the U.S. can use the ocean as a place for energy development and production. While she cites a variety of clean energy technologies, including more out-there proposals for wave energy and algae-based biofuels, Warren emphasizes offshore wind as an area for major growth. The Blue New Deal lists several benefits of offshore wind including carbon-free energy production and boosts to the economy. Warren’s campaign cites statistics that by 2030 offshore wind from Maine to Maryland could provide 36,000 full-time jobs in the U.S. Currently, only one offshore wind project—the 30-megawatt Block Island farm off the coast of Rhode Island [2]— is in operation but several developers have major offshore installations in the works. Under the Blue New Deal, federal clean energy tax credits would be extended but any incentives available to offshore wind would depend on the project benefiting nearby communities. These promises address current concerns in coastal communities that offshore wind will hurt their economies.

[1] https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/blue-new-deal

[2] https://kokosingindustrial.com/projects/block-island-wind-farm/

［USA］Vineyard Wind wins 804 MW bid for offshore wind in Connecticut

On December 5, 2019, Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) selected Vineyard Wind, an offshore wind developer, to proceed to contract negotiations with electric distribution companies in the state to provide 804 MW of offshore wind through the development of the Park City Wind Project.[1] The bid was selected through a request for proposals from DEEP following the signing of HB 7156 (also called Public Act 19-71) on June 7, 2019 which requires the state to solicit up to 2,000 MW of offshore wind. [2],[3] The project is the largest purchase of renewable energy in Connecticut’s history—accounting for 14% of the state’s electricity supply—and is considered a major step toward Governor Lamont’s goal of a 100% zero-carbon electricity supply by 2040. The Park City Wind Project is Vineyard Wind’s second offshore wind project in the U.S. and will be built in the same federal waters lease area as the developer’s Massachusetts project. It is expected to come online in 2025.

[1] https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?Q=610542&A=5009

[2] https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2019&bill_num=7156

[3] https://www.cga.ct.gov/2019/ACT/pa/pdf/2019PA-00071-R00HB-07156-PA.pdf

［USA］ NorthWestern Energy to acquire 25% share of Colstrip; plans to reduce carbon by 90%

NorthWestern Energy, a utility company based in Sioux Falls, SD, announced on December 10, 2019 that it plans to purchase Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) 25% share of Montana's coal-fired Colstrip Unit 4 for just $1.[1] If the plan is approved by the Montana Public Service Commission and Washington Utilities Transportation Commission, NorthWestern would procure 185 MW of generation from Colstrip Unit 4 which would bring its totally share of the unit to 55%. According to NorthWestern, the purchase, although contrary to its carbon-reduction goals, will help the utility to meet a winter peak capacity deficit and preserve reliability for its customers. Currently, NorthWestern’s energy portfolio for Montana is 60% carbon-free. The utility will set aside the benefits from the transaction to address the environmental costs associated with its existing ownership when the time comes to retire Unit 4. For PSE, the sale of its share of the Colstrip unit will help the utility reduce its coal fleet by 50% and give them a lead on meeting Washington state’s requirement for electric utilities to eliminate coal-fired generation from their portfolios in the next five years.[2],[3]  

[1] http://www3.northwesternenergy.com/our-company/media-center/current/news-article/2019/12/10/NorthWestern-Energy-to-acquire-25-share-of-Colstrip-Unit-4-from-Puget-Sound-Energy

[2] https://www.pse.com/press-release/details/pse-moves-closer-to-coal-free-electricity-years-ahead-of-schedule?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=TWITTER&utm_campaign=Engagement

[3] https://www.utc.wa.gov/regulatedIndustries/utilities/energy/Pages/CETAoverview.aspx

[Japan] Chubu Electric Power Has Partnered with Novars, a Dry-Cell Battery Manufacturer, to Develop New Senior Monitoring Services

Chubu Electric Power (Chuden), headquartered in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture[1], and Novars[2], a Tokyo-based wireless dry cell battery manufacturer, announced on October 25, 2019 that they have reached an agreement to jointly develop new monitoring services for senior citizens in order to respond to the increasing demand for senior care. Novars develops and commercializes a dry-cell battery integrated with a communication module called “MaBeee[3]”. The device is designed to provide remote monitoring services for seniors and children via a connected network. The two companies aim to ultimately improve users’ safety and security through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT).

 Chubu Electric Power Group Management Vision wants Chuden to “provide innovative services for new communities” through AI and IoT, as well as other advanced technologies, in addition to strengthening its core energy business operations. Subsequently, it has recently established a distinct business segment in April 2019 that emphasizes providing and managing new community services.

 Additionally, Chuden has agreed to invest in Novars by providing some capital through a third-party allotment. Chuden’s investment will be contributed from the Chubu Electric Power Community Support Fund, which supports venture capital funds and startups with advanced technologies or innovative business models related to monitoring services. The fund, a corporate venture capital fund, was established in April 2019 as an internal fund for Chuden[4].

[1] https://www.chuden.co.jp/english/corporate/ecor_company/ecom_outline/index.html

[2] http://novars.jp/

[3] http://novars.main.jp/new_WP/company

[4] https://www.chuden.co.jp/corporate/publicity/pub_release/press/3272005_21432.html

［USA］Dan Brouillette Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Secretary of Energy

On December 2, 2019, the day after Secretary Rick Perry resigned, the United States Senate confirmed Dan Brouillette—former Deputy Secretary of Energy under Secretary Rick Perry—to be the 15th U.S. Secretary of Energy in a bipartisan vote of 70-15.[1] The vote follows the November 14th Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on Brouillette’s nomination where he pledged to fight for Department of Energy’s (DOE) budget and reiterated his commitment to a holistic approach to energy which includes using coal and other fossil fuels as baseload energy.[2] Before his transition to the DOE, Brouillette worked in the transportation private sector for United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and Ford Motor Company, where he served in leadership positions.[3] He also worked in several government positions prior to his private sector work such as Chief of Staff to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/dan-brouillette-confirmed-us-senate-be-secretary-energy

[2] https://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/11/full-committee

[3] https://www.energy.gov/articles/dan-brouillette-sworn-deputy-secretary-united-states-department-energy

［USA］ITIF Releases Report on Using Tax Incentives to Drive Clean Energy Innovation

The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a think tank that promotes innovation-friendly policies in science and technology, released a report on December 2, 2019 that found that existing federal tax credits for solar and wind power need to be reformed and are not conducive to development of new clean energy technologies.[1] According to the report, an extension of credits would favor the most widely used technologies over younger, more expensive alternatives that could eventually prove superior. Currently, tax credits for solar and wind are set to wind down over the next few years. The investment tax credit (ITC), most typically used for solar, drops from 30% in 2019 to 10% in 2022 for utility-scale systems and for residential systems it disappears completely in 2022. Starting next year, wind developers can no longer claim a production tax credit (PTC) for new projects. Despite these phase-downs or phaseouts, the ITIF says that both the wind and solar industries would keep growing. Instead of an extension to these tax credits, the ITIF report envisions new tax credits for early adopters of new technologies and innovations, which would allow companies to scale up and work out the kinks in their product.

[1] https://itif.org/publications/2019/12/02/less-certain-death-using-tax-incentives-drive-clean-energy-innovation

［USA］Nevada PUC floats proposal for 1,000 MW storage target by 2030

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) submitted a proposal to the Nevada state’s Legislative Counsel Bureau on November 26, 2019.[1] Under the proposal, PUCN would adopt a 1,000 MW statewide energy storage target for utilities by the end of 2030. To achieve this, it is proposed that there would be biennial targets, beginning with 100 MW by the end of 2020 and then ramping up to 400 MW and 800 MW by 2024 and 2028, respectively. Beginning in 2022, utilities in Nevada would be required to file progress updates with the commission. The proposal comes more than two years after SB 204 directed the commission to look into requiring utilities to purchase storage.[2] PUCN has looked into the costs and benefits of storage and commissioned a report on these concerns in 2018 which found that the most cost-effective amount of storage for Nevada’s market conditions in 2030 was in the 700 MW to 1,000 MW range.[3] Most recently, NV Energy, a public utility, proposed on June 24, 2019 to procure 590 MW of energy storage which would put the proposal by the PUCN seven years ahead of schedule.[4]

[1] http://pucweb1.state.nv.us/PDF/AxImages/DOCKETS_2015_THRU_PRESENT/2017-7/43083.pdf

[2] https://legiscan.com/NV/bill/SB204/2017

[3] https://brattlefiles.blob.core.windows.net/files/14618_economic_potential_for_storage_in_nevada_-_final.pdf

[4] http://pucweb1.state.nv.us/PDF/AxImages/DOCKETS_2015_THRU_PRESENT/2019-6/39888.pdf

[Japan] Chugoku Power Electric, Meidensha, and Mazda will Jointly Conduct a Virtual Power Plant Demonstration Project Reusing Electric Vehicle Batteries

On October 17, 2019, Chugoku Electric Power Company (Chugoku EPCo), headquartered in Hiroshima Prefecture, announced that it had partnered with Meidensha, a Tokyo-based generator manufacturer, and Mazda, an automaker based in Hiroshima Prefecture, to develop a stationary energy storage system that reuses Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries. The partners will also conduct a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Demonstration Project based on the system.

Generally, VPP can integrate and control electricity from EVs and storage batteries in addition to renewable energy sources located in residential households and manufacturing plants. VPPs are expected to provide a wide variety of services related to power systems, such as power demand and supply management for power transmission and distribution companies.

In order to examine the feasibility of reusing EV batteries for VPP energy, the demonstration project will build a VPP system that controls multiple EV batteries along with other distributed energy resources such as solar power generators, EVs and electric water heaters. The project will evaluate the performance of the VPP and the reused batteries’ capacity deterioration characteristics at Chugoku EPCo’s Energia Economic and Technical Research Institute, which is located in Higashihiroshima city in Hiroshima prefecture.[1]

[1] http://www.energia.co.jp/assets/press/2019/p191017-1a.pdf

[Japan] METI held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference in Tokyo on November 1, 2019. The conference aimed to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and share information to promote distributed energy systems that are combined with a renewable energy utilization model that integrates energy supply and demand.

The traditional structure of energy supply and demand in Japan has been transformed by five major factors: the dramatic drop in the cost of solar power systems; the development of innovative digital technologies along with the possibility of structural changes to the electric power system; the recent electricity market and system reform in Japan; current efforts to meet energy customers’ demands for the utilization of renewable energy (e.g. RE 100, SDGs, etc.); and the increasing need to strengthen the resiliency of the energy supply system due to the increased frequency of natural disasters. These structural changes have spurred rising demand for the deployment of distributed energy systems. Therefore, METI provided a discussion forum to facilitate discussions about issues and challenges between various stakeholders, including electric utility companies, energy services providers, home builders, mobility-related operators, renewable energy customers, local governments, and financial institutions.

During the meeting, stakeholders discussed the challenges that they may face when deploying and operating distributed energy systems. The conference addressed the following issues;

(1) How to visualize the value of renewable energy

(2) How to promote and deploy energy integration technologies (i.e. battery storage systems, Electric Vehicle (EV), and Virtual Power Plant (VPP))

(3) How to balance distributed energy systems with existing power systems and networks

(4) How to utilize existing grid distribution lines for regional microgrids.[1]

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191021003/20191021003.html

［USA］Cincinnati to Construct Nation’s Largest City-led Solar Project

On November 21, 2019, the City of Cincinnati, Ohio announced that it will construct the largest municipal solar array—100 MW—in the country. Of the 100 MW, 35 MW will serve the City of Cincinnati facilities by December 2020 and the other 65 MW will benefit residents of the city through the Cincinnati Electric Aggregation Program in December 2021. The project will reduce the region’s annual carbon emissions by 158,000 tons. Cincinnati was one of 25 cities to have been accepted into the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge two-year program, which will assist the cities in meeting their near-term carbon reduction goals. For the project, the city entered a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Creekwood Energy and Hecate Energy, two Cincinnati-based clean energy developers. The city is offsetting the financial risks associated with building solar arrays by entering an agreement where developers will take up the construction costs. The agreement specifies that the city will be able to purchase electricity at a fixed rate for the full 20 years of the contract. The PPA was facilitated by Bloomberg’s partners, the World Resources Institute and Rocky Mountain Institute’s Renewable Accelerator.

References：
https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/mayor/news/cincinnati-to-construct-nation-s-largest-city-led-solar-project/
https://www.bloomberg.org/program/environment/climatechallenge/#overview

［USA］Nevada Governor Orders Plans for Economy-Wide Carbon Reductions

On November 22, 2019, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D) signed an executive order requiring state agencies to create plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors of the economy. State agencies will need to submit a climate strategy report to Governor Sisolak by December 1, 2020. The executive order is the latest in a series of efforts by Nevada’s state government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Earlier this year on March 22, 2019, the State of Nevada joined hundreds of other non-federal actors in the U.S. Climate Alliance and committed to the Paris Agreement. This was followed by an April 22 bill passed by the state that adopted targets for renewable energy, including 50% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. The most recent action, Senate Bill (SB) 254, was signed June 3, 2019 and directed the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to produce annual report on greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies. The state of Nevada is already experiencing the effects of climate change; Las Vegas, Nevada is the nation’s fastest warming city, with a temperature increase of 5.76 degrees Fahrenheit between 1970 and 2018.

References：
http://gov.nv.gov/News/Executive_Orders/2019/Executive_Order_2019-22_Directing_Executive_Branch_to_Advance_Nevada_s_Climate_Goals/
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/6431/Text

［USA］DOE Announces $15 Million to Deploy Energy Infrastructure on Tribal Lands

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on November 13, 2019 up to $15 million in new funding to deploy energy infrastructure on tribal lands. The funding, through the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs will support Indian Tribes interested in developing their energy resources. DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is soliciting applications for the funding in four topic areas: install energy generating systems/energy efficiency to tribal buildings; set up community-scale energy generating systems of storage on Tribal lands; install energy systems for autonomous operation to power essential facilities during emergencies; and put in energy infrastructure and integrated energy systems to electrify Tribal Buildings. In the DOE’s Quadrennial Energy Review in 2017, the DOE noted that one in seven Indian households is without access to electricity. An extrapolation of EIA and census data suggests that this is roughly the equivalent of 160,000 people. The funding is intended to help solve this electricity issue by reducing or stabilizing energy costs and providing energy security and resilience for Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages.

References：
https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-15-million-deploy-energy-infrastructure-tribal-lands
https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/02/f34/Quadrennial%20Energy%20Review--Second%20Installment%20%28Full%20Report%29.pdf

［USA］Ørsted to build landmark solar & storage project

On November 13, 2019, Ørsted, a Copenhagen-based developer known for its wind energy projects, announced that following final investment decision from its Board of Directors, it has begun construction on the company’s first utility-scale solar plus battery storage project, named the Permian Energy Center. The Permian Energy Center will be located in Andrews County, Texas on a 3,000-acre site with 420 MWac solar PV and 40 MWac battery storage. The total 460 MWac will supply power to 100,000 U.S. homes and is set to come online in mid-2021. Solar modules will be supplied by Chinese companies Jinko Solar and JA Solar, the number one and number two global suppliers in 2018. The Permian Basin is a hub of fossil fuel production and is considered one of the nation’s largest petroleum-producing basins in the country, producing upwards of 4.5 million barrels of oil per day in 2019. The project’s location in this region known for fossil fuel production underscores the increasing cost competitiveness of renewable energy.

References：https://orsted.com/en/Media/Newsroom/News/2019/11/211915390980624
　　　　　 https://presscloud.com/file/17/179531740742690/sted_Permian_Energy_Center_animation.mp4
　　　　　 https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/drilling/

［USA］Lyft Adds 200 EVs to Denver Rental Program

Lyft, a ride-share company similar to Uber, announced on November 14, 2019 that it deployed 200 long-range electric vehicles (EVs) into its Express Drive program in Denver. This is the largest EV deployment in state history and one of the largest in the country. The introduction of EVs in Denver follows an announcement earlier this year on February 6, 2019 that Lyft intends to introduce thousands of EVs to their program across multiple cities, and will make it easier for riders to request them through Green Mode, an option to ride in EVs instead of their gasoline-reliant counterparts. The Express Drive program operates in nearly three dozen U.S. cities and allows drivers to rent vehicles through Lyft’s partners instead of committing to longer-term options. Having EVs as a rental option will help solve one of the biggest barriers to adoption of EVs: cost. According to Lyft, the EVs will also help the drivers save on cost, potentially saving them $70-100 per week on fuel costs alone.

References：
https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-denver-ev-2019
https://www.lyft.com/expressdrive
https://blog.lyft.com/posts/2019/2/6/making-cities-more-liveable-with-electric-vehicles

［USA］SRP to Cut Emissions Through Major Solar + Battery Energy Purchase

On November 14, 2019, Arizona’s Salt River Project (SRP) announced plans for two solar plus storage projects (Sonoran Energy Center and Storey Energy Center) which are expected to come online by June 2023. The following day, November 15, 2019, SRP introduced its new plan to add 1 GW of new utility-scale solar by 2025. The solar plus storage projects will push the utility more than 60% toward this goal. The Sonoran Energy Center will include a 250 MW solar array charging a four-hour battery system capable of storing 1GWh, and will be the largest solar-charged battery project in the state. The Storey Energy Center will be an 88 MW solar and energy storage system. Both projects will be owned and operated by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources. The projects will help serve the utility’s peak load as SRP retires coal-fired resources.

References：https://media.srpnet.com/srp-to-cut-emissions-through-major-solar--battery-energy-purchase/
　　　　　 https://media.srpnet.com/srp-plans-new-solar-energy

［Japan］ METI held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference in Tokyo on November 1, 2019. The conference aimed to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and share information to promote distributed energy systems that are combined with a renewable energy utilization model that integrates energy supply and demand.

 The traditional structure of energy supply and demand in Japan has been transformed by five major factors: the dramatic drop in the cost of solar power systems; the development of innovative digital technologies along with the possibility of structural changes to the electric power system; the recent electricity market and system reform in Japan; current efforts to meet energy customers’ demands for the utilization of renewable energy (e.g. RE 100, SDGs, etc.); and the increasing need to strengthen the resiliency of the energy supply system due to the increased frequency of natural disasters. These structural changes have increased the demand for the deployment of distributed energy systems. Therefore, METI provided a discussion forum to facilitate discussions about issues and challenges between various stakeholders, including electric utility companies, energy services providers, home builders, mobility-related operators, renewable energy customers, local governments, and financial institutions.

 During the meeting, stakeholders discussed about the challenges that they may face when deploying and operating distributed energy systems. The conference addressed the following issues: (1) How to visualize the value of renewable energy; (2) How to promote and deploy energy integration technologies, such as battery storage systems, Electric Vehicle (EV), and Virtual Power Plant (VPP); (3) How to harmonize distributed energy systems with existing power systems and networks; and (4) How to utilize existing grid distribution lines for regional microgrids.[1]

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191021003/20191021003.html

［Japan］ Tokyo Electric Power Holdings Created a Separate Company for Renewable Energy Generation: TEPCO Renewable Power

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO HD, headquartered in Tokyo) announced on August 7, 2019, that it had decided to create a separate company devoted to renewable energy generation activities by April 1, 2020.[1] On October 1, 2019, TEPCO HD officially established TEPCO Renewable Power, Inc.[2], headquartered in Tokyo. TEPCO HD launched TEPCO Renewable Power, which will specialize in developing and operating renewable energy sources, as part of TEPCO HD’s strategy to achieve its goal of generating a total of six to seven GW of renewable energy in Japan and overseas.[3]

 TEPCO Renewable Power will be responsible for coordinating with Japanese and international partners to develop energy sources. By establishing this new company, TEPCO HD intends to clarify its duties and capabilities in renewable energy generation. Accordingly, TEPCO Renewable Power is expected to be able to make efficient decisions on large-scale investments and flexible financing for renewable energy projects.[4]

[1] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/1518330_8709.html

[2] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/pdf4/191001j0202.pdf

[3] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/1516232_8709.html

[4] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/1516232_8709.html

[Japan] METI released a Status Update on Power Outages and Facility Damage Caused by Typhoon Hagibis

On October 16, 2019, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced a status update on the power outages and energy-related facility damage caused by Typhoon #19 (“Hagibis”). The typhoon hit the Kanto district in Japan on October 12, 2019, and caused tremendous power outages in approximately 16,720 households in a total of 14 prefectures, including the Tokyo Metropolitan area.[1]

 As of October 16, 2019, approximately 5,220 households in Nagano Prefecture within the service area of Chubu Electric Power (Chuden, Headquarter: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) were continuing to experience power outages, and another 2,900 homes within the Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO, Headquarter: Tokyo) service area were still without power.

 Typhoon Hagibis also caused natural gas distribution disruptions and high-pressure natural gas leaks. The natural gas supply for nearly 900 households in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture was interrupted due to the severe damage to gas pressure regulators. As of October 16, 2019, the gas supply has been resumed for approximately 485 homes, and repair work is continuing for the remaining homes.

 The roof of a Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas cylinder warehouse owned by a Toyota USEC office in Yokohama was damaged by the typhoon and led to further LP gas leaks. As of October 16, 2019, the leaks had been stopped. Toyota USEC is a used-car commercial services provider and a subsidiary of Toyota and is headquartered in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture.[2] [3]

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191012002/20191012002.html

[2] http://www.toyota-usec.co.jp/corporate/

[3] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191016006/20191016006.html