Setting the Pace for A Cleaner 2022

“Let’s have no illusions: if commitments fall short by the end of this COP, countries must revisit their national climate plan and policies. Not every five years. Every year. Every moment.” Those words by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres echoed through the hallways of the COP26 climate conference in November 2021.

Climate action cannot be carried out by a single nation, or a handful; it requires the commitment and action of the entire world. In partnership with these nations, businesses must also step up to help these nations fulfil their commitments and their transition to clean energy.

This transition, however, involves a long process that includes using less pollutive carbon fuels such as natural gas in the interim, as well as more zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen.

Fossil fuels will continue to be an important source of the energy mix, but there has been much effort to reduce complete dependence on it. Hailed as a milestone in global climate efforts, COP26 witnessed different nations renew or announce new commitments to cut emissions with countries in APAC such as Indonesia and Malaysia pledging to phase down the use of coal power by 2040. 

This is a major development from the 2019 Climate Action Summit, where similar commitments were last made. Although we experienced some setbacks in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the return to openness is promising.

It is also heartening to see the younger generation being more vocal about taking climate action. I believe that in years to come, we will see both the young and old coming together to tackle climate issues. 

Making Strides in 2021

In the last year, Mitsubishi Power has successfully navigated new challenges brought about by the pandemic to deliver reliable and decarbonized power in the region.

As part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, we strengthened our commitment to "Mission Net Zero". With this pledge, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality by removing all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from our operations and achieve Net Zero emissions from the entire value chain of power generation by 2040. To do this, we are working together with other MHI companies to utilize carbon capture, utilization and storage facilities to reduce our emissions.

Cleaner fuel sources such as liquified natural gas (LNG) have become increasingly important to meet new demands and requirements. To facilitate this, we are actively introducing and advancing gas turbine technologies. 

One of the milestones we have achieved in 2021 is the commercialization of Southeast Asia’s first two M701 JAC gas turbines in Thailand, which in combined cycle achieves 65% less carbon emissions that coal-fired power plants. In Singapore, we completed upgrade works for two gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plants at Senoko Energy with the same line of gas turbines, resulting in a reduction of 15,000 tons of emissions annually. We also commissioned a natural gas-fired GTCC power generation system in Indonesia, the most efficient power plant of its kind in the country.

We also continue to advocate the use of zero-carbon fuels. We will introduce the regions’ first hydrogen co-firing gas turbines in Australia, a step in ushering this new zero carbon fuel to our range of gas turbines. We are also developing H-25 gas turbines to run on hydrogen and ammonia. 

Keeping with our enhancements in gas turbines technology and cleaner fuel combustion, we have continued to help our partners maximize the efficiency of power generation in a time of digitalization. In August, we established a global network of TOMONI HUBs, with one situated in the Philippines. These HUBs use artificial intelligence to provide real-time, cyber-secure support to plant operators across all types of energy systems. By doing so, we are paving the way for smarter, more responsive and resilient power plants.

At the start of 2021, I highlighted that the road to cleaner power requires time and collaboration across public and private sectors. Within the Asia Pacific, I had the opportunity to sit amongst esteemed government leaders from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to learn about their aspirations – and I look forward to more of such dialogue. 

Forging Ahead to 2022

Looking ahead to 2022, I am eager to bring Mitsubishi Power to greater heights. Leveraging the momentum created by COP26, we aim to help deliver cleaner power and support the region in efforts to achieve the commitments made at the summit.

We continue to aspire toward the approach outlined in our white paper entitled “Designing Roadmaps for Growth and Decarbonization”. For countries to decarbonize and achieve economic development, they need to have existing power generation systems that are flexible, use decarbonized fuels and acquire low- and zero-carbon energy solutions.

To achieve this, we should partner with countries that have announced energy development plans and supply them with clean power solutions to address their needs. One such solution is our battery energy storage systems (BESS) that serve as reliable power backups to support the grid and renewables during seasonal intermittencies. Another solution that we are enhancing are our solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), small-scale distributed power generation systems that have achieved 72% efficiency and can accommodate a range of fuels. 

In addition, we will work alongside MHI Group company Turboden to supply and maintain Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems that can support multiple energy sources for distributed generation. This can help countries diversify their avenues to cleaner power, including the use of geothermal in countries such as Philippines and Indonesia that have rich natural resources to tap on.

Also, our commitment to scale hydrogen usage in power generation remains strong. We have our highly efficient world-class J Series gas turbines which can co-fire hydrogen, and are set to achieve 100% hydrogen firing in large-scale gas turbines within the decade. 

As the pandemic wears on into 2022, digitalization will remain a key focus. We will continue to innovate and enhancing our digital solutions – not only to help operators achieve optimal efficiency, but also create autonomous power grids that maximize power output whilst minimizing manpower needs. 

The final ingredient to successfully make progress and execute cleaner efforts is private-public collaboration. Mutual respect and understanding that we are at different points of transition can help us learn from each other and solve problems. 

As we march into the new year, trust will be critical. The need for all of us to work together is greater than ever and I invite everyone to join me to create an energy future that is beneficial for all. 

Written by: Osamu Ono, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Mitsubishi Power Asia Pacific