Japan's J-Power will close 40% of its coal-fired capacity by 2030

The Japanese power utility Electric Power Development (J-Power) intends to close old and low-efficiency coal-fired power plants by 2030, which accounts for about 40% of the company’s 8.4 GW coal-fired power capacity. The group may consider replacing the inefficient coal-fired power plants with advanced technologies, such as gasification.

Earlier in October 2020, the Japanese power utility JERA has formulated a roadmap to reach zero CO₂ emissions by 2050 and intends to close all inefficient coal-fired power plants (supercritical or less) in Japan by 2030. JERA owns and operates 9.5 GW of coal-fired capacity in Japan, including 2.2 GW of supercritical capacity.

Japan intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To cut greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions to zero by 2050, the country will invest in new solar cells and carbon recycling, intensifying research and development in those areas, and digitalise its economy. In addition, Japan will have to start decommissioning coal power plants and will also stop building and financing new coal power plants in Japan and overseas. In July 2020, the government had announced plans to retire more than 100 inefficient coal-fired power plant units by 2030.