[Japan] Chugoku Power Electric, Meidensha, and Mazda will Jointly Conduct a Virtual Power Plant Demonstration Project Reusing Electric Vehicle Batteries

On October 17, 2019, Chugoku Electric Power Company (Chugoku EPCo), headquartered in Hiroshima Prefecture, announced that it had partnered with Meidensha, a Tokyo-based generator manufacturer, and Mazda, an automaker based in Hiroshima Prefecture, to develop a stationary energy storage system that reuses Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries. The partners will also conduct a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Demonstration Project based on the system.

Generally, VPP can integrate and control electricity from EVs and storage batteries in addition to renewable energy sources located in residential households and manufacturing plants. VPPs are expected to provide a wide variety of services related to power systems, such as power demand and supply management for power transmission and distribution companies.

In order to examine the feasibility of reusing EV batteries for VPP energy, the demonstration project will build a VPP system that controls multiple EV batteries along with other distributed energy resources such as solar power generators, EVs and electric water heaters. The project will evaluate the performance of the VPP and the reused batteries’ capacity deterioration characteristics at Chugoku EPCo’s Energia Economic and Technical Research Institute, which is located in Higashihiroshima city in Hiroshima prefecture.[1]

[1] http://www.energia.co.jp/assets/press/2019/p191017-1a.pdf

[Japan] METI held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference in Tokyo on November 1, 2019. The conference aimed to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and share information to promote distributed energy systems that are combined with a renewable energy utilization model that integrates energy supply and demand.

The traditional structure of energy supply and demand in Japan has been transformed by five major factors: the dramatic drop in the cost of solar power systems; the development of innovative digital technologies along with the possibility of structural changes to the electric power system; the recent electricity market and system reform in Japan; current efforts to meet energy customers’ demands for the utilization of renewable energy (e.g. RE 100, SDGs, etc.); and the increasing need to strengthen the resiliency of the energy supply system due to the increased frequency of natural disasters. These structural changes have spurred rising demand for the deployment of distributed energy systems. Therefore, METI provided a discussion forum to facilitate discussions about issues and challenges between various stakeholders, including electric utility companies, energy services providers, home builders, mobility-related operators, renewable energy customers, local governments, and financial institutions.

During the meeting, stakeholders discussed the challenges that they may face when deploying and operating distributed energy systems. The conference addressed the following issues;

(1) How to visualize the value of renewable energy

(2) How to promote and deploy energy integration technologies (i.e. battery storage systems, Electric Vehicle (EV), and Virtual Power Plant (VPP))

(3) How to balance distributed energy systems with existing power systems and networks

(4) How to utilize existing grid distribution lines for regional microgrids.[1]

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191021003/20191021003.html

［USA］Cincinnati to Construct Nation’s Largest City-led Solar Project

On November 21, 2019, the City of Cincinnati, Ohio announced that it will construct the largest municipal solar array—100 MW—in the country. Of the 100 MW, 35 MW will serve the City of Cincinnati facilities by December 2020 and the other 65 MW will benefit residents of the city through the Cincinnati Electric Aggregation Program in December 2021. The project will reduce the region’s annual carbon emissions by 158,000 tons. Cincinnati was one of 25 cities to have been accepted into the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge two-year program, which will assist the cities in meeting their near-term carbon reduction goals. For the project, the city entered a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Creekwood Energy and Hecate Energy, two Cincinnati-based clean energy developers. The city is offsetting the financial risks associated with building solar arrays by entering an agreement where developers will take up the construction costs. The agreement specifies that the city will be able to purchase electricity at a fixed rate for the full 20 years of the contract. The PPA was facilitated by Bloomberg’s partners, the World Resources Institute and Rocky Mountain Institute’s Renewable Accelerator.

References：
https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/mayor/news/cincinnati-to-construct-nation-s-largest-city-led-solar-project/
https://www.bloomberg.org/program/environment/climatechallenge/#overview

［USA］Nevada Governor Orders Plans for Economy-Wide Carbon Reductions

On November 22, 2019, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D) signed an executive order requiring state agencies to create plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors of the economy. State agencies will need to submit a climate strategy report to Governor Sisolak by December 1, 2020. The executive order is the latest in a series of efforts by Nevada’s state government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Earlier this year on March 22, 2019, the State of Nevada joined hundreds of other non-federal actors in the U.S. Climate Alliance and committed to the Paris Agreement. This was followed by an April 22 bill passed by the state that adopted targets for renewable energy, including 50% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. The most recent action, Senate Bill (SB) 254, was signed June 3, 2019 and directed the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to produce annual report on greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies. The state of Nevada is already experiencing the effects of climate change; Las Vegas, Nevada is the nation’s fastest warming city, with a temperature increase of 5.76 degrees Fahrenheit between 1970 and 2018.

References：
http://gov.nv.gov/News/Executive_Orders/2019/Executive_Order_2019-22_Directing_Executive_Branch_to_Advance_Nevada_s_Climate_Goals/
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/6431/Text

［USA］DOE Announces $15 Million to Deploy Energy Infrastructure on Tribal Lands

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on November 13, 2019 up to $15 million in new funding to deploy energy infrastructure on tribal lands. The funding, through the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs will support Indian Tribes interested in developing their energy resources. DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is soliciting applications for the funding in four topic areas: install energy generating systems/energy efficiency to tribal buildings; set up community-scale energy generating systems of storage on Tribal lands; install energy systems for autonomous operation to power essential facilities during emergencies; and put in energy infrastructure and integrated energy systems to electrify Tribal Buildings. In the DOE’s Quadrennial Energy Review in 2017, the DOE noted that one in seven Indian households is without access to electricity. An extrapolation of EIA and census data suggests that this is roughly the equivalent of 160,000 people. The funding is intended to help solve this electricity issue by reducing or stabilizing energy costs and providing energy security and resilience for Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages.

References：
https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-15-million-deploy-energy-infrastructure-tribal-lands
https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/02/f34/Quadrennial%20Energy%20Review--Second%20Installment%20%28Full%20Report%29.pdf

［USA］Ørsted to build landmark solar & storage project

On November 13, 2019, Ørsted, a Copenhagen-based developer known for its wind energy projects, announced that following final investment decision from its Board of Directors, it has begun construction on the company’s first utility-scale solar plus battery storage project, named the Permian Energy Center. The Permian Energy Center will be located in Andrews County, Texas on a 3,000-acre site with 420 MWac solar PV and 40 MWac battery storage. The total 460 MWac will supply power to 100,000 U.S. homes and is set to come online in mid-2021. Solar modules will be supplied by Chinese companies Jinko Solar and JA Solar, the number one and number two global suppliers in 2018. The Permian Basin is a hub of fossil fuel production and is considered one of the nation’s largest petroleum-producing basins in the country, producing upwards of 4.5 million barrels of oil per day in 2019. The project’s location in this region known for fossil fuel production underscores the increasing cost competitiveness of renewable energy.

References：https://orsted.com/en/Media/Newsroom/News/2019/11/211915390980624
　　　　　 https://presscloud.com/file/17/179531740742690/sted_Permian_Energy_Center_animation.mp4
　　　　　 https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/drilling/

［USA］Lyft Adds 200 EVs to Denver Rental Program

Lyft, a ride-share company similar to Uber, announced on November 14, 2019 that it deployed 200 long-range electric vehicles (EVs) into its Express Drive program in Denver. This is the largest EV deployment in state history and one of the largest in the country. The introduction of EVs in Denver follows an announcement earlier this year on February 6, 2019 that Lyft intends to introduce thousands of EVs to their program across multiple cities, and will make it easier for riders to request them through Green Mode, an option to ride in EVs instead of their gasoline-reliant counterparts. The Express Drive program operates in nearly three dozen U.S. cities and allows drivers to rent vehicles through Lyft’s partners instead of committing to longer-term options. Having EVs as a rental option will help solve one of the biggest barriers to adoption of EVs: cost. According to Lyft, the EVs will also help the drivers save on cost, potentially saving them $70-100 per week on fuel costs alone.

References：
https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-denver-ev-2019
https://www.lyft.com/expressdrive
https://blog.lyft.com/posts/2019/2/6/making-cities-more-liveable-with-electric-vehicles

［USA］SRP to Cut Emissions Through Major Solar + Battery Energy Purchase

On November 14, 2019, Arizona’s Salt River Project (SRP) announced plans for two solar plus storage projects (Sonoran Energy Center and Storey Energy Center) which are expected to come online by June 2023. The following day, November 15, 2019, SRP introduced its new plan to add 1 GW of new utility-scale solar by 2025. The solar plus storage projects will push the utility more than 60% toward this goal. The Sonoran Energy Center will include a 250 MW solar array charging a four-hour battery system capable of storing 1GWh, and will be the largest solar-charged battery project in the state. The Storey Energy Center will be an 88 MW solar and energy storage system. Both projects will be owned and operated by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources. The projects will help serve the utility’s peak load as SRP retires coal-fired resources.

References：https://media.srpnet.com/srp-to-cut-emissions-through-major-solar--battery-energy-purchase/
　　　　　 https://media.srpnet.com/srp-plans-new-solar-energy

［Japan］ METI held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the First Distributed Energy Platform Conference in Tokyo on November 1, 2019. The conference aimed to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and share information to promote distributed energy systems that are combined with a renewable energy utilization model that integrates energy supply and demand.

 The traditional structure of energy supply and demand in Japan has been transformed by five major factors: the dramatic drop in the cost of solar power systems; the development of innovative digital technologies along with the possibility of structural changes to the electric power system; the recent electricity market and system reform in Japan; current efforts to meet energy customers’ demands for the utilization of renewable energy (e.g. RE 100, SDGs, etc.); and the increasing need to strengthen the resiliency of the energy supply system due to the increased frequency of natural disasters. These structural changes have increased the demand for the deployment of distributed energy systems. Therefore, METI provided a discussion forum to facilitate discussions about issues and challenges between various stakeholders, including electric utility companies, energy services providers, home builders, mobility-related operators, renewable energy customers, local governments, and financial institutions.

 During the meeting, stakeholders discussed about the challenges that they may face when deploying and operating distributed energy systems. The conference addressed the following issues: (1) How to visualize the value of renewable energy; (2) How to promote and deploy energy integration technologies, such as battery storage systems, Electric Vehicle (EV), and Virtual Power Plant (VPP); (3) How to harmonize distributed energy systems with existing power systems and networks; and (4) How to utilize existing grid distribution lines for regional microgrids.[1]

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191021003/20191021003.html

［Japan］ Tokyo Electric Power Holdings Created a Separate Company for Renewable Energy Generation: TEPCO Renewable Power

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO HD, headquartered in Tokyo) announced on August 7, 2019, that it had decided to create a separate company devoted to renewable energy generation activities by April 1, 2020.[1] On October 1, 2019, TEPCO HD officially established TEPCO Renewable Power, Inc.[2], headquartered in Tokyo. TEPCO HD launched TEPCO Renewable Power, which will specialize in developing and operating renewable energy sources, as part of TEPCO HD’s strategy to achieve its goal of generating a total of six to seven GW of renewable energy in Japan and overseas.[3]

 TEPCO Renewable Power will be responsible for coordinating with Japanese and international partners to develop energy sources. By establishing this new company, TEPCO HD intends to clarify its duties and capabilities in renewable energy generation. Accordingly, TEPCO Renewable Power is expected to be able to make efficient decisions on large-scale investments and flexible financing for renewable energy projects.[4]

[1] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/1518330_8709.html

[2] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/pdf4/191001j0202.pdf

[3] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/1516232_8709.html

[4] http://www.tepco.co.jp/press/release/2019/1516232_8709.html

[Japan] METI released a Status Update on Power Outages and Facility Damage Caused by Typhoon Hagibis

On October 16, 2019, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced a status update on the power outages and energy-related facility damage caused by Typhoon #19 (“Hagibis”). The typhoon hit the Kanto district in Japan on October 12, 2019, and caused tremendous power outages in approximately 16,720 households in a total of 14 prefectures, including the Tokyo Metropolitan area.[1]

 As of October 16, 2019, approximately 5,220 households in Nagano Prefecture within the service area of Chubu Electric Power (Chuden, Headquarter: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture) were continuing to experience power outages, and another 2,900 homes within the Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO, Headquarter: Tokyo) service area were still without power.

 Typhoon Hagibis also caused natural gas distribution disruptions and high-pressure natural gas leaks. The natural gas supply for nearly 900 households in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture was interrupted due to the severe damage to gas pressure regulators. As of October 16, 2019, the gas supply has been resumed for approximately 485 homes, and repair work is continuing for the remaining homes.

 The roof of a Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas cylinder warehouse owned by a Toyota USEC office in Yokohama was damaged by the typhoon and led to further LP gas leaks. As of October 16, 2019, the leaks had been stopped. Toyota USEC is a used-car commercial services provider and a subsidiary of Toyota and is headquartered in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture.[2] [3]

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191012002/20191012002.html

[2] http://www.toyota-usec.co.jp/corporate/

[3] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/10/20191016006/20191016006.html

［Japan］ Japan’s Electric Power Council for a Low Carbon Society Released its Vision for a Long-Term Global Warming Strategy

On October 2, 2019, Japan’s Electric Power Council for a Low Carbon Society (ELCS) published its vision for a long-term global warming strategy, “the Future Direction and Contribution of Japan’s Electric Utilities to a Low-Carbon Society.” The ELCS was established in February 2016, primarily by Japanese electric utilities as well as independent power producers in order to promote effective global warming measures in the power generation sector, while ensuring ‘Safety + Energy Security, Economy, and Environment (S+3E)’. The ELCS’ vision is in accordance with the Japanese government’s two latest energy policies—The 5th Strategic Energy Plan (2018)[1] and Japan's Long-term Strategy under the Paris Agreement (2019)[2], and shares the same concepts to achieve a low-carbon society.

 In order to shift to a low-carbon society by reducing CO2 emissions on a global scale, the ELCS plan sets out four basic goals:

·  Pursuing a dynamic energy mix to achieve a reliable and affordable energy supply, as well as promoting environmental preservation, based on safety assurance concepts

·  Moving forward with low-carbon power and electrification through comprehensive energy savings and an optimized energy mix

·   Promoting the development and deployment of innovative technologies to achieve significant CO2 emission reductions

·   Reducing CO2 emissions on a global scale through international contributions, by promoting the export of Japan’s low-carbon infrastructure technologies as well as expanding Japanese companies’ business activities overseas[3]

As of August 2019, the ELCS has 47 members, including Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO, Headquarter: Osaka Prefecture), Kyushu Electric Power (Kyuden, Headquarter: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture[4]) and other electric utilities as well as power producers.[5] [6]

[1] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2018/07/20180703001/20180703001.html

[2] https://www.env.go.jp/press/106869.html

[3] https://e-lcs.jp/news/4f009a368ebd6e5470ac256416bc2de8a7dbe962.pdf

 [4] https://www.kyuden.co.jp/english_company_outline_index.html

[5] https://e-lcs.jp/member.html

[6] https://e-lcs.jp/news/detail/000183.html

［USA］PSEG in Talks to Acquire 25% of Ørsted’s 1.1 GW New Jersey Offshore Wind Project

Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind, a Danish offshore wind developer, and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), a New Jersey-based utility, announced on October 29, 2019 the beginning of exclusive negotiations for PSEG to become an equity investor in the 1.1 GW New Jersey offshore wind project, Ocean Wind. If negotiations are successful, PSEG would acquire 25% of the Ocean Wind project. PSEG was already connected to the project, having pledged its energy management services and leased land for its development. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities unanimously granted Ørsted the winning bid in June of this year and the project serves as the first of three solicitations by New Jersey to secure 3.5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. The project, located 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, is the single largest award for offshore wind in the country to date and will supply power to half a million New Jersey homes. Ocean Wind is expected to come online in 2024 but it remains subject to permitting and final investment decisions.

References：https://nj.pseg.com/newsroom/newsrelease112

［USA］Commonwealth of Virginia, Dominion Energy Partner on Historic Renewable Energy Agreement

Under a new agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Dominion Energy, the state will receive 420MW of renewable energy for its universities, state offices, and other facilities, Dominion Energy announced on October 18, 2019. Dominion plans to deliver power for the contract from four proposed solar projects and a 75W wind facility currently in development. The historic contract is the largest procurement of renewable energy by a state and is line with the current goals of both Virginia and Dominion Energy. Just last month, Gov. Ralph Northam signed an executive order committing the state to 100% carbon free energy by 2050 and 30% renewable energy by 2030. The new deal with Dominion, when combined with previous solar projects, will meet 45% of the state government’s annual energy use. The agreement is also a next step for Dominion Energy which committed itself to being one of the most sustainable companies in the United State in their most recent Sustainability Report.

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References：Dominion Energy, Oct. 18, 2019, Virginia Executive Order 43 (2019)

［USA］DOE Awards $28 Million for Wind Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Projects

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on October 22, 2019 that it selected 13 wind energy projects with a total of $28 million in funding. This follows an announcement by the DOE in March calling for concept papers and full applications for the funding. The 13 selected projects cover the full spectrum of technology development, from testing to integration, and include all three sectors of the wind energy industry: distributed, offshore, and land-based utility-scale wind. As of October 2019, utility scale, land-based wind energy had grown to 96 gigawatts in the United States. Despite this growth, the DOE still sees significant opportunities for improvements in cost through projects that focus on upgrades in current infrastructure, developing innovative technologies, and supporting rural electric utilities. Daniel R Simmons, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, commented, “These projects will be instrumental in driving down technology costs and increasing consumer options for wind across the United States as part of our comprehensive energy portfolio.”

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References：DOE, Oct. 22, 2019, DOE, Mar. 28, 2019

[Japan] Kyushu Electric Power Signed a Business Partnership Agreement with NExT-e Solutions to Advance Storage Battery Reuse Technologies

On September 20, 2019, Kyushu Electric Power (Kyuden, headquartered in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture ) announced that it had signed a Business Partnership Agreement with NExT-e Solutions (NExT-eS), a Tokyo-based start-up company that specializes in advanced storage battery control technology , in order to advance storage battery reuse technologies.

The partnership is part of the KYUDEN i-PROJECT, which aims to promote innovation to provide new value to customers. NExT-eS is currently conducting a demonstration project to test large-scale stationary lithium-ion batteries’ storage systems in cooperation with NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization). The lithium-ion batteries are currently being used for solar power plants. Based on the results of the demonstration project, Kyuden and NExT-eS aim to commercialize 20MWW/20MWh stationary energy storage units by 2023.

[Japan] JERA Offers Comprehensive Engineering and O&M Services for Biomass Power Generation Company in Japan

JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Fuel & Power (headquartered in Tokyo)[1] and Chubu Electric Power (headquartered in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture)[2], announced that it will provide comprehensive services for Kamisu Biomass Power Generation LLC. JERA is one of the largest power producers in the world, and owns several LNG receiving terminals and power generation assets. JERA participates in a wide variety of business activities, including investing in power plant development projects, fuel procurement and fuel trading, and operations and maintenance (O&M) services.[3] Through this contract, JERA will provide comprehensive services, including planning, design, construction, and O&M services, for Kamisu Biomass Power Station, which will be built in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

 The Kamisu Biomass Power Station is expected to generate a total output of 50MW, and will begin commercial operations in September 2023. The power station will be built and operated by leveraging JERA’s experience from operating 26 domestic thermal power stations. JERA will continue expanding its O&M services to customers in Japan and overseas, as part of its goal to secure O&M service contracts for 80GW of power generation by FY2025.[4]

[1] https://www7.tepco.co.jp/fp/about/index-e.html

[2] https://www.chuden.co.jp/english/corporate/ecor_company/ecom_outline/index.html

[3] https://www.jera.co.jp/english/business

[4] https://www.jera.co.jp/information/20190930_399

［Japan］ The Second Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting and the First International Conference on Carbon Recycling were held by METI and NEDO in Tokyo

On September 25, 2019, a series of international conferences; the Second Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting and the First International Conference on Carbon Recycling, were held in Tokyo by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). NEDO is Japan’s largest public R&D funding institute specialized in new clean energy technologies.[1]

 Representatives from 35 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and France, as well as international organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the European Commission (EC), attended the Second Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting. The Meeting consisted of two sessions; a Ministerial Session and an International Organization Session.

 The Ministerial Session facilitated talks between countries and concluded the Global Action Agenda, setting goals and roadmaps for utilizing hydrogen energy as a key technology to reduce carbon emissions in the energy systems. During the International Organization Session, delegations from global leading companies, as well as the IEA and the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), presented the latest development efforts for hydrogen technologies. These technologies fall under the four areas of cross-cutting activities, transportation/mobility applications, hydrogen supply chains, and cross-sector integration.

 Simultaneously, representatives from 20 countries and international organizations participated in the First International Conference on Carbon Recycling. The conference marked the world’s first international meeting on carbon recycling technologies, and focused on promoting international collaborations. During the meeting, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. Isshu Sugawara, presented on Japan’s “Carbon Recycling 3C Initiative ”, which stands for Caravan (promoting mutual exchanges), Center of Research, and Collaboration. This initiative aims to deepen knowledge about carbon recycling technologies overseas, establish research centers to specialize in R&D activities, and strengthen international collaborations. Representatives from various countries also shared their progress in carbon recycling technologies development.[2]

[1] https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/introducing_index.html

[2] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2019/09/20190927003/20190927003.html

[Japan] Kansai Electric Power Began Commercial Operations at Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Plant in Laos

On September 6, 2019, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO), headquartered in Osaka Prefecture, announced that it has begun commercial operation of Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Plant in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) on September 5.

 The Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Plant’s construction began in October 2014. The plant consists of two power stations; the main power station has a generation capacity of approximately 270MW, and the re-regulation power station has a capacity of 20MW. The main power station is equipped with a large-scale dam, which is 167m high and 530m long. The plant is a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) project and supplies 1.6 billion kWh of electricity in Laos and Thailand annually. The hydropower plant is located on the Nam Ngiep River, one of the tributaries of Mekong River which flows across the border between Laos and Thailand.

 In April 2006, KEPCO signed a project development agreement (PDA) with the Laos government. In April 2013, a joint venture, Nam Ngiep 1 Power Company (NNP1) was established to develop the Nam Ngiep 1 project. The joint venture members are KEPCO, EGAT International, a subsidiary of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and Lao Holding State Enterprise, a subsidiary of the Laos government. The NNP1 is headquartered in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.[1] In August 2013, NNP1 entered into a 27-year power purchasing agreement (PPA) with EGAT and Électricité du Laos (EDL).[2]

[1] https://namngiep1.com/about-us/

[2] https://www.kepco.co.jp/corporate/pr/2019/0906_1j.html

[Japan] Chugoku Electric Power Revised Its Electricity Rates

Chugoku Electric Power Company (Chugoku EPCo), headquartered in Hiroshima Prefecture, announced on August 28, 2019, that it will revise the electricity rates for seven of its electricity plans, starting from April 1, 2020. Revisions are planned for the “Time-of-Use Plan,” “Family Time Plan,” “Peak Shift Plan” and “Midnight Power Plan,” among others.

 Since 1966, Chugoku EPCo has set its nighttime electricity rates at affordable prices to encourage nighttime electricity consumption. However, in recent years, Chugoku EPCo has seen a change in customers’ electricity usage patterns, leading to increasing nighttime electricity demands along with reduced daytime demand. The change reflects the expansion of solar power generation and the progress of energy efficiency. As a result, it has become more costly to generate electricity for nighttime use. In response, Chugoku EPCo will raise the nighttime electricity rate by 2.99 yen per 1kWh, while lowering the daytime rate[1].

[1] http://www.energia.co.jp/press/2019/12018.html