Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO)

KEPCO significantly reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 40% from 482 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 291 gCO2/kWh in 2020. This reduction is aligned with the company’s future 1.5°C pathway. The proportion of fossil fuel power in its generation mix has been steadily decreasing, as its nuclear power plants come back online after the Fukushima disaster shutdowns in 2011. KEPCO plans to increase its renewables energy capacity to 6 GW by the 2030, and the use of nuclear power generation.

Considering Japan’s 2050 Carbon Neutral Declaration, and KEPCO acknowledging the accelerating global trend towards decarbonisation, KEPCO has the opportunity to strengthen and develop its targets to align with these aims. With the introduction of KEPCO’s net-zero commitment, it can demonstrate its dedication to decarbonisation by setting targets to facilitate its 2030 and 2050 objectives. Further, the company should aim to be carbon neutral by 2035 in order to align with the 1.5°C pathway for electric utility companies with assets in advanced economies.

KEPCO discloses financial information on its capital expenditure (CapEx) investment for 2020 and the next two years, its planned low-carbon electricity portfolio development, and its total investments in research and development (R&D) to mitigate climate change. But it does not disclose its mitigation R&D expenditure on non-mature technologies and total fossil fuel and low-carbon portfolio development CapEx up to 2025. The latter would improve transparency on the proportion of its portfolio development allocated to low-carbon generation. KEPCO discusses the use of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) technology, but does not publish any related investment figures.

KEPCO plans to achieve 6 GW of installed renewables capacity by 2030, along with at least 2 GW of new development in Japan or abroad. Reduce its CO2 emissions from power generation by 50% in 2030 compared to 2013, and achieve zero-carbon emissions by 2050.

KEPCO’s transition plan does not provide specific details. To promote decarbonisation KEPCO states that it is committed to promoting renewable energy, the effective use of nuclear power generation and improving the efficiency of thermal power generation, while also discussing the use of CCUS.

KEPCO has achieved a renewable installed capacity of 3.9 GW and further 0.5 GW for new development. For the development of smart grids and the roll-out of smart meters, KEPCO has completed the installation of smart meters for customers that receive high-voltage and extra-high-voltage electricity.

KEPCO reduced its scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 40% from 482 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 291 gCO2/kWh in 2019. Over this period the proportion of nuclear power in its generation mix increased from 1% to 27%. Along with the commissioning of three coal-fired and one gas-fired power stations.

KEPCO aims to reduce its generation emissions by 50% in 2030 compared to 2013 and it has a 2050 net-zero commitment, but it will continue to rely on coal-fired and gas-fired power generation for security. This will require the use of CCUS technologies, but KEPCO does not publish concrete plans for this.