CO2 Emissions Control

As the Kyoto Protocol went into effect in February 2005, the Japanese government decided in April of the year the "Plan to Achieve Targets of the Kyoto Protocol," which is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2008-2012 by 6% from the 1990 level. Japan's total CO2 emissions amount to about 1.36 billion tons (results in FY2004). Of this total, thermal power stations account for about one-fourth. The role to be played by the electricity industry for CO2 emissions control is important.

Tohoku EPCo is trying to reduce CO2 emissions per kWh of electric power consumption (CO2 emissions intensity) through measures for electricity service facilities (supply side) and efforts to improve the electricity usage (demand side). Our Company also actively participates in international efforts such as utilization of the Kyoto Mechanisms and participation in afforestation projects.

Actual CO2 Emissions

Tohoku EPCo's electricity sales in FY2005 amounted to 79.7 billion kWh, up 2.3 billion kWh from the previous fiscal year.

On the other hand, its CO2 emissions amounted to 40.83 million tons, up 6.93 million tons from the previous fiscal year.

CO2 emissions per kWh of electricity consumed by our customers (CO2 emissions intensity) was 0.512 kg- CO2/kWh, up 0.074 kg-CO2/kWh, because the availability factors of thermal power stations were increased because of shutdown of Onagawa Nuclear Power Station due to an earthquake in August 2005 in Miyagi prefecture.

Measures for CO2 Emissions Control

CO2 Emissions Intensity and Electricity Sales

In proportion to the CO2 emissions control target of the electricity industry as a whole (to try to reduce the industry's CO2 emissions intensity in FY2010 by about 20% from the FY1990 level), our Company is trying to reduce its CO2 emissions intensity to about 0.34 kg-CO2/kWh.