Japan's largest power producer JERA plans net zero CO2 by 2050

Singapore — Japan's JERA plans to shut down all inefficient coal power plants by 2030, introduce the combustion of ammonia at its thermal power plants by 2040, hydrogen co-firing by 2050 and expand renewable energy, mainly offshore wind power, as part of its roadmap to net zero carbon-dioxide by 2050, it announced on Oct. 13.

Japan's largest power producer said it will achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions from its operations in the country by 2050, and CO2 emitted from power plants using fossil fuels will be offset by using technology or CO2-free LNG at the end of 2050.

JERA's announcement comes after Japan itself has set a goal for net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, with the phasing out inefficient coal-fired power plants, and the launch of policy discussions on Oct. 13 to review the country's Strategic Energy Plan aimed at scrutinizing progress towards its 2030 energy mix.

The highlight of the top LNG and coal importer's roadmap is the introduction of ammonia and hydrogen co-firing technology in a big way, wherein the new fuels will be combined with traditional natural gas or coal combustion.

This underscores the development of ammonia and hydrogen supply chains, and the increased demand for carbon-neutral LNG in coming decades, which will impact investment and energy transition plans for all the fuels concerned.

"Thermal power generation using fossil fuels accounts for about 80% of Japan's electricity demand but about 40% of its total CO2 emissions. Reducing CO2 emissions from thermal power generation is essential to realizing a low-carbon society," JERA said.

JERA said by 2030 it will "reduce carbon emission intensity of thermal power plants by 20% based on the long-term energy supply demand outlook for FY 2030 as set by the government."

Its roadmap for ammonia covers testing at the Hekinan Thermal Power Station and starting initial operations by 2030, achieving a 20% co-firing rate with ammonia in all coal power plants by mid-2030s, and a shift to thermal power plants using 100% ammonia as fuel through power plant replacement by the 2040s.

While all supercritical coal power plants and those with lesser efficiency will be shut by 2030, JERA will conduct demonstration tests of mixed combustion with ammonia at the high-efficiency or ultrasupercritical coal power plants.

For hydrogen, JERA plans to verify stable operation of an actual power plant by 2030, resolve technical issues like the selection of a suitable hydrogen carrier, start operations of hydrogen plants by 2040 and expand the hydrogen co-firing rate by 2050.

Its plan to boost offshore wind power by 2050 will be backed by the use of battery storage.

"This roadmap will be gradually developed in greater detail based on relevant conditions such as government policies," JERA said, adding that it will continue efforts to develop decarbonization technologies and ensure economic rationality.

It said it will seek to achieve zero CO2 emissions through three main approaches -- firstly through the adoption of greener fuels and thermal power that does not emit CO2, secondly through individual roadmaps for each country and region to account for the heterogeneous energy situation of each area, and thirdly by focusing on a smart transition that involves available, reliable and low-risk technologies.