Ube power station
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Ube power station (西沖の山発電所（仮）) is a cancelled power station in Ube, Yamaguchi, Chūgoku, Japan. It is also known as Nishiokinoyama Power Plant, Nishiokinoyama No.1 (Unit 1), Nishiokinoyama No.2 (Unit 2).
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Ube power station | Ube, Yamaguchi, Chūgoku, Japan | 33.95, 131.25 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 600 | ultra-supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 2 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 600 | ultra-supercritical | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Yamaguchi Ube Power Generation Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Yamaguchi Ube Power Generation Co Ltd [100.0%] |
Background
In 2014 J-Power, Ube Industries, and Osaka Gas proposed a coal-fired power station of two units of 600 MW each for the city of Ube, with a planned completion date for the first unit in the early 2020s.[1][2]
In June 2015 Japan's Environment Minister Yoshio Mochizuki said he planned to submit an objection to the power station, saying it was incompatible with Japan's target to cut CO2 emissions by 26 percent from 2013 levels by 2030.[3]
In April 2019 Osaka Gas announced that "in light of the changing business environment of the electric power industry and future risks, Osaka Gas has decided to withdraw from this business project as a result of comprehensive consideration based on the company’s investment criteria." Osaka Gas has a 45 per cent stake in the joint venture company.[4]
After Osaka Gas's departure from the project the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was withdrawn.[5] J-Power and Ube Industries, which respectively have 45 per cent and 10 per cent stakes in the joint venture, said they would suspend environmental assessment of the plant and reconsider options including reducing its proposed capacity to 600 MW or several smaller 300 MW integrated gasification combined cycle plants.[6]
Cancellation
On April 16, 2021, J-Power announced it was scrapping the long-planned coal power plant in Yamaguchi prefecture due to an outlook for expanding renewables and lacklustre electricity demand.[7] Japanese NGO Kiko Network reacted to the announcement, saying: "With the cancellation of this project, at least 3.6 million tons of CO2 emissions per year (0.3% of Japan’s total greenhouse gas emissions) will be avoided (in the case of one 600MW unit). We welcome today’s decision announced by J-POWER and Ube Industries, which is in line with our request."[8]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ “Operation and Construction Plans of Coal-Fired Thermal Plants in Japan,” Kiko Network, 17 October 2014
- ↑ "Construction plans for Japan's coal power stations," Reuters, Dec 11, 2014
- ↑ "Japan's environment ministry pushes back on coal use," Reuters, June 12, 2015
- ↑ "Osaka Gas Withdraws from Construction Plan for Nishiokinoyama Power Plant (provisional name)", Media Release, Apr. 24, 2019
- ↑ Risk Analysis of Coal-Fired Power Plant Investment in Japan, Renewable Energy Institute, October 2019
- ↑ Yuka Obayashi, "Osaka Gas to withdraw from coal-fired power station project", Reuters, Apr. 24, 2019
- ↑ "Yamaguchi-Ube Power Generation Co., Ltd. Cancels Nishiokinoyama Power Plant (Tentative Name) Installation Plan," J-Power press release, Apr. 16, 2021
- ↑ "Welcoming J-POWER and Ube Industries’ decision to cancel coal power station in Yamaguchi, Japan: Other coal-fired power projects must stop, too", Kiko Network press release, Apr. 16, 2021
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
