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CO₂ Emissions Continue to Increase as Power Consumption Increases

As a result of the rapid economic development in newly emerging countries, there has been an increase in the demand for electric power throughout the world, especially in China, India and other Asian countries. The annual global consumption of electricity, which currently amounts to at least 16 trillion kWh, is predicted to increase to about 1.5 times the current level by 2030.

While various power generation methods are used to provide power, thermal power generation, which generates electricity by burning fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and gas, accounts for about 70% of the world's power currently being generated. Meanwhile, comparison of CO₂ emissions generated by different types of power generation systems shows that thermal power generation causes more CO₂ emissions per unit power generated than other power generation systems. Thermal power generation therefore presents serious problems, including global warming and resource depletion, making it more and more difficult to depend on fossil fuels as the only resource.

While global warming is still hotly debated at international conferences due to conflicting national interests, there is a common consensus among all countries about the need to create a sustainable society and to promote the development of a low-carbon and recycle-based society designed to achieve the common goal. The goal of reducing energy-originated CO₂ emissions throughout the world by half, presented in the IEA's Energy Technology Perspective 2008, is very difficult to achieve. Achieving the goal requires medium- and long-term technological innovation in a wide range of areas from energy supply to consumption. We are therefore faced with an urgent need to develop measures for the future aimed at providing a stable supply of energy and mitigating global warming at the same time.

Breakdown of Power Generation by Power Source

CO₂ Emissions by Power Source

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Energy Approach by Toshiba Group

In order to develop specific measures to achieve the goals of Environmental Vision 2050, Toshiba Group is promoting an energy approach aimed at providing a stable supply of energy and mitigating global warming with an optimum combination of different energy sources.

In areas related to electric power generation and distribution, including conventional energy (nuclear and thermal power generation), renewable energy (hydroelectric, geothermal and solar power generation), dispersed power sources and power supply systems, we will promote innovation from two different perspectives: process innovation aimed at thoroughly reviewing conventional methods to add value to existing processes and value innovation aimed at creating entirely new value.

In the area of nuclear power generation, the IEA estimates that an average of thirty-two nuclear power plants, which do not emit CO₂ during power generation, need to be built annually. Construction plans are currently being developed in various countries, opening up possibilities for many new construction projects. Toshiba Group will provide boiling water reactor (BWR) plants and pressurized water reactor (PWR) plants to meet the needs of these countries and will contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions through the construction of new power plants. We will also provide technologies to improve the power generation capacity and operation rate of plants in operation in order to reduce CO₂ emissions generated from plants in operations. And to extend the service life of uranium resources that provide fuel supplies, we will step up our efforts to develop technologies related to fast reactors and the reprocessing of nuclear fuel aimed at establishing a fuel cycle.

In the area of thermal power generation, the IEA estimates that there is a need to achieve a total annual reduction of 9 billion tons of CO₂ emissions in combination with reductions in industrial areas by 2050 by using CCS* technology designed for the efficient capture and storage of carbon dioxide. At present, many companies are working to develop CO₂ capture technology for power plants, and experimental studies of CO₂ capture using small demonstration plants are being conducted throughout the world. Our company group will take the initiative to promote development aimed at commercializing CCS technology as soon as possible and will also continue to make improvements in the performance of turbine systems.

In the area of renewable energy, the IEA estimates that there is a need to achieve an annual reduction of about 10 billion tons of CO₂ emissions by 2050. Toshiba Group is working on a variety of initiatives in this area, including solar power generation, geothermal power generation, hydroelectric power generation and micro-hydroelectric power generation. We newly organized a Solar Power Generation System Project Promotion Division on January 1, 2009. In the area of hydroelectric power generation, we are working to improve power generation efficiency by replacing old turbine runners (rotor blades) with the most advanced model.

In the area of power distribution, we are developing ultra-high voltage transmission which decreases power transmission loss; Smart Grid, a next-generation power network system, which is expected to play an important role in making effective use of power; and switchgears and transformers that can support a stable power supply. We are also working on initiatives to achieve reductions in CO₂ emissions in the area of home energy supply, such as the commercialization of compact, lightweight ENE•FARM models.

Toshiba Group estimates that these initiatives will result in a total reduction of 13.5 million t CO₂ per year in FY2008. We will continue to develop innovations in energy technology in order to achieve a reduction of 27 million t CO₂ per year by 2012 and a reduction of 82 million t CO₂ per year by 2025.

* Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage

Toshiba Group's Approach to Energy