Chubu Electric's 1GW Taketoyo coal project questioned

Concerns over carbon emissions are rising.

Chubu Electric's 1,070 MW Taketoyo coal-fired power plant project (Aichi prefecture, central Japan) is currently reviewed by the Japanese Ministry of Environment, which is likely to recommend the reconsideration of the project and will probably submit an objection to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) because of rising concerns over carbon emissions. The final recommendation over the project is scheduled to be issued soon, according to Enerdata.

In June 2015, the Ministry of Environment objected another huge coal-fired project, the 1,200 MW power station proposal developed by Osaka Gas and Electric Power in Yamaguchi.

Here's more from Enerdata:

The Ministry considers the increased use of coal power would be problematic in the context of a proposed 26% cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 2013 and 2030. In July 2015, the Ministry rejected the 1,070 MW Taketoyo project for the first time along with the Chiba-Sodegaura's 2,000 MW project in Chiba. In February 2017, Chubu reacted and proposed instead to mix biomass with coal to reduce GHG emissions at the plant.

The development of coal-fired power projects, promoted by the METI to cut rising fossil fuel import bills, may limit Japan's ability to meet its GHG emissions target and the voluntary emission reduction target set by the Japanese Federation of Electric Power Companies (reducing CO2 emissions per kWh by 35% from 2013 levels to 370 gCO2/kWh in 2030).

This story was originally published by Enerdata.