Tag - utilities

 
 

UTILITIES

Japan’s power supply is expected to be sufficient for both the upcoming summer and winter, according to government forecasts.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 2, 2024
Japan forecasts sufficient power for upcoming summer and winter
Japan’s grid has proven fragile in the past, which has sometimes forced the government to ask households and businesses to conserve electricity.
An ammonia tank at Jera's Hekinan thermal power station in Aichi Prefecture on March 13
ENVIRONMENT / Energy
Apr 1, 2024
Jera starts ammonia co-firing trial at coal power station
The power company said it is the world's first trial using a large amount of the gas at a major commercial plant.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2024
Tepco profit goal remains elusive, 13 years after triple meltdown
The total costs related to the nuclear crisis are estimated at ¥23.4 trillion, including ¥8 trillion for decommissioning the Fukushima No. 1 plant.
Environment groups gather to oppose a key LNG terminal that threatened a delicate algal reef, in Taipei in December 2021. If Taipower can’t make sufficient progress on clean-energy generation, the island could potentially lose some of its allure as a destination for chip manufacturing.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 28, 2024
Taiwan’s troubled utility poses risk to chipmakers’ green goals
Political pressures have prevented the state-owned Taipower from passing on costs to customers, while bets on offshore wind have been marred by obstacles.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2023
Tepco's Fukushima No. 1 victim compensation costs set to rise
Factors in the increase includes pay outs to fishery operators due to the releases into the ocean of tritium-containing treated wastewater from the plant.
An offshore wind turbine, operated by Swancor Holding stands in the Taiwan Strait off the coast of Miaoli County, Taiwan, in 2018.
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2023
Japan firms exit Taiwan offshore wind projects amid industry woes
Shikoku Electric Power decided to pull out of the Yunlin Offshore Wind Project in the Taiwan Strait due to delays threatening its profitability.
JAPAN
Nov 3, 2023
Kansai Electric applies to run Takahama reactor beyond 50th year
The No. 1 reactor at the plant in Fukui Prefecture is the oldest active reactor in Japan, having been commissioned in November 1974.
Utilities are increasingly controlling power output from renewable energy sources as the share of renewables expands.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Oct 30, 2023
Renewable energy cuts from output controls surge sixfold in Japan
With renewables such as solar power in wider use, output controls aimed at balancing power supply and demand have been used more frequently.
A Jera thermal power plant
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 6, 2023
Japan climate group calls for ban on top power firm's emission claims
The group says the ads may mislead consumers as Jera fails to mention that the ammonia the utility plans to use would emit CO2 during production.
BUSINESS
Sep 27, 2023
Industry ministry sees LNG stocks recovering toward winter
LNG stocks have been declining since May as a long, hot summer boosted the use of air-conditioners, lifting demand for power and fuels.
A liquefied natural gas tanker is tugged toward a thermal power station in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, in November 2017
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2023
Japan’s dwindling LNG inventories could prompt new purchases
Storage held by Japan’s power suppliers fell to 1.62 million tons as of Sept. 17, according to data compiled by the trade ministry.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 15, 2023
Japan moves to make more effective use of solar power
Efforts are being made to use surplus electricity generated during the daytime by solar power and to shift power demand according to supply.
JAPAN
Sep 11, 2023
Chugoku Electric plans to restart Shimane reactor next August
The move comes as Japan aims to reboot more reactors to help diversify its electricity mix.
Kansai Electric Power's Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 3, 2023
Japan's nuclear restarts this year to hasten LNG import decline
Kansai Electric Power's plan next month to relaunch the last idle reactor at its flagship nuclear plant will mark an energy shift in Japan.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jun 27, 2023
Competition growing over sales of energy-saving goods in Japan
Many consumers are buying new air conditioners to replace old ones as the hot and humid season gets underway.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 16, 2023
Japan approves up to 42% increase in household electricity prices
Seven of Japan’s major energy providers will raise household their prices from June, in a move likely to add to inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 13, 2023
Kansai Electric and four others submit business improvement plans
Kansai Electric Power Co. and four other Japanese power companies have submitted to the industry ministry plans to improve their business operations after unauthorized accesses to customer information managed by subsidiaries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
May 8, 2023
Crows’ nests on utility poles in Fukushima raise risk of power outages
Data shows that the number of crow-nest removals in Fukushima Prefecture totaled 1,903 in 2022, roughly tripling from 662 in 2013.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 30, 2023
Momentum grows over a 'just' climate transition in Japan, but more action needed
The government and NGOs have begun to engage with the climate issue, but more work needs to be done to ensure workers in high-emitting industries and regions don’t get left behind.

Longform

Yasuyuki Yoshida stirs a brew in a fermentation tank at his brewery in Hakusan.
The quake that shook Noto's sake brewing tradition