Reference 1

April 14, 2000
The Federation of Electric Power Companies
The Central Electric Power Council

With the partial deregulation of retail electricity and the implementation of a bidding system for thermal-generated power, the environment surrounding the Japanese electric power companies (EPCos) has changed greatly.
Each power company pursues its own research with the aim of boosting its own price competitiveness. At the same time, however, there are many issues that are of common concern to all power companies, including: those that affect public welfare, such as ensuring energy security and combating global warming; and those that involve cutting-edge technologies, such as fuel cells and superconducting materials. To address these common themes, the major EPCos actively pursue joint research programs while seeking support from the national government.

The budget for joint research conducted by the EPCos in this fiscal year is ¥24.7 billion, which is ¥1.1 billion less than the previous year. Projects to be pursued are described below.

Ensuring Energy Security and Combating Global Warming

(1)

Technical development aimed at establishing a nuclear fuel cycle

Research will be conducted on uranium enrichment and reprocessing and interim storage for recycled fuel materials, and on ways to support fuel recycling business operations. With respect to uranium enrichment, work will be pursued (in a cooperative effort between government and the private sector) on the development of an advanced centrifuge separator with a body made of composite materials, and on laser-based enrichment technologies. This work will continue until the results are collected and organized. In addition, R&D will be conducted to establish domestically based MOX fuel processing technologies.

(2)

Technical development for the practical use of fast breeder reactors

On the basis of results gained from the conceptual design of a pilot reactor, efforts will be made to achieve reactor/fuel cycle integration with priority placed on ensuring safety and improving economic performance, while taking into account a wide variety of options that will ensure greater flexibility.

(3)

Technical development for finding specific, rational methods for disposing of radioactive waste

Some high-level radioactive waste from nuclear fuel cycle facilities, transuranic waste, and low-level radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants exceed the upper limit of radioactive concentration levels permitted in buried waste. Therefore, research will be conducted on methods of disposing of these materials, and technical development will be pursued on the topic of decommissioning of nuclear reactors.

(4)

Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC)

In addition to research being conducted at an ICGG pilot plant (200 tons/day, 25MW), feasibility studies and element tests were carried out in fiscal 1997 and 1998 in preparation for demonstration tests. The results were combined with survey results obtained from overseas projects, and, beginning in fiscal 1999, work began on the development of pilot equipment with a subsidy provided by the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy. In fiscal 2000, work will continue on confirming the performance and reliability of the pilot equipment, including design research and preliminary verification tests.

(5)

Technologies to Reduce CO2 Emissions

Based on results achieved in joint research projects that have been carried out since fiscal 1997 on CO2 fixation technologies, continued joint work for fiscal 1999 through 2000 is focusing on gaining a clearer picture of the actual status and problems associated with overseas forestation programs. The EPCos have also been jointly researching CO2 recovery and disposal technologies since fiscal 1995 and, through such means as exchanging research results that have been achieved by the companies individually, will continue to gain technical insight and collect and evaluate information concerning technologies that can be used to reduce CO2 emissions.

Development of Innovative Technologies

(1)

Superconducting Power Generators

Since fiscal 1988, the EPCos have participated in national Engineering Research Association for Superconducting Generation Equipment and Materials, and, after 12 years of developmental work, succeeded in establishing the design and manufacturing technologies necessary for a 300,000 kW superconducting power generator in fiscal 1999. The next phase of the project, which will take four years beginning in fiscal 2000, is to develop the basic technologies needed to achieve greater density and capacity for practical applications.

(2)

Alternating-current Superconducting Technology

In fiscal 1998 through 1999, FEPC members participated in “cutting-edge basic research on AC superconducting equipment,” the preliminary phase of a national project aimed at applying superconducting technology to AC equipment. For five years beginning in fiscal 2000, efforts will be made to develop the essential basic technologies for the fabrication of transmission cables, current limiting reactors, and transformers that incorporate high-temperature superconductors.

(3)

Developing Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC)

The EPCos participate in a national R&D project on MCFCs because the latter are more efficient at generating electric power than phosphoric-acid type fuel cells and can use a variety of fuels, including coal gas. They joined the Technology Research Association for Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Systems in fiscal 1993 and worked on developing a 1,000kW plant at the Kawagoe Thermal Power Plant in Mie Prefecture until fiscal 1999. Beginning in fiscal 2000, they will begin studying practical applications while conducting elemental technical development aimed at improving battery performance and achieving other results essential for practical applications.

(4)

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)

The EPCos will continue their work on basic technologies and elemental research related to SOFCs, while staying abreast of trends in Japan and abroad.