Japan’s biggest utility, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has revealed plans to develop up to 7 GW of new renewable energy capacity, marking a major departure from nuclear.
Tomoaki Kobayakawa, President of TEPCO, said that the company intended to invest tens of billions of dollars into 6-7 GW of renewable energy projects both in Japan and abroad, including offshore wind and hydropower. He suggested that the focus in Japan will largely be on onshore wind, including the use of floating turbine technology. TEPCO also plans to develop hydropower sites in south-east Asia.
Renewables currently account for 15 per cent of TEPCO’s power output. Kobayakawa said: “We must gain competitive advantage in renewable energy.”