Mitsubishi Corporation Power Ltd (MCP) has announced a joint venture (JV) with The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO). Aioi Bioenergy Corporation formed to promote and develop biomass power generation business in Japan.
Japan-based power major Mitsubishi Corporation Power Ltd (MCP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), has announced a joint venture (JV) with The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO).
According to MCP, Aioi Bioenergy Corporation is being set up to promote and develop biomass power generation business in Japan. The new venture will have an initial capital of JPY 450 million (≈ EUR 3.6 million) with 40 percent of that being invested by MCP.
The project is aiming to facilitate the conversion of fuel used at the second 375 MW unit of KEPCO’s Aioi Power Station in Hyogo Prefecture from its current heavy oil or crude oil sources to woody biomass.
MCP already operates some 73 MW of power generated from solar projects and is developing and constructing wind and geothermal power generation projects across Japan. The new project expands on these existing renewable energy initiatives.
MC and its subsidiaries intend to continue working with local and international partners to develop power generation projects that use renewable energy, thereby contributing to increased energy self-sufficiency and the growth of new industries in Japan while at the same time helping to combat greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Facts
About Aioi Power Plant
The plant consists of three 375 MW units; Unit 1 and Unit 3 commissioned in September 1982 and January 1983 respectively and both run on natural gas, heavy oil or crude oil. Unit 2 commissioned in November 1982 and runs on heavy oil or crude oil. Unit 2 will be converted to run on woody biomass such as pellets and downrated to about 200 MW.
