In April 2013, when Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) was preparing for a call for bids on new thermal power plants of total 2.6 GWe to start operating between 2019 and 2021, METI and the MOE developed guidelines for CO2 emissions from new fossil fuel-fired power plants as part of a legally mandatory environment impact assessment procedure.
1. Effective global environmental countermeasures in the power industry
Since effective actions consistent with national plans and targets, are needed in the power sector, promote the development of a sector-wide framework in which;
?The goals are consistent with national plans
?Main business operators including non-regional electric utilities are participating
?Responsible body is clearly defined (focusing on retail stage)
2. Treatment of CO2 within environmental assessment
Evaluate from a stand point below where necessary and reasonable
(a) Adoption of BATs (Best Available Technologies)
?The government will identify and publish “Development and commercialization status of cutting-edge power generation technologies” by size and by fuel types, as s reference for business operators’ consideration and will request business operators to adopt BATs
(b) Consistency with national targets and plans
b-1: In relation to mid-term target?If the business operator takes actions under the sector-wide framework or plans to take measures including mitigation in abroad to offset the net increase emission over a natural gas power plant, it is judged as consistent with national targets and plans.
b-2: In relation to 2050 target?The government will accelerate development of the technologies which is targeted to be commercialized by around 2020, conduct survey on potential CO2 storage sites as a prerequisite for CCS, identify requirements for CCS Ready plants, and request business operators to study continuously including technological development in order to put carbon capture facilities towards commercialization.
(Source: Kuramochi 2014, http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/docs/files/20140318-83.pdf)