Promotion of Environmental Business by Companies of Company Group

Biomass Power Generation Business

Biomass Power Generation by
Tohoku Electric Power Engineering
& Construction Co., Ltd.

Biomass energy (bioresource) was defined as new energy in January 2002, and is expected to come into wide use in the future with the aid of the central government as an effective means of coping with both the prevention of global warming and recycling of resources.

Tohoku Electric Power Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. has made investment in "Biomass Power Shizukuishi Co., Ltd.," an SPC (special-purpose company) established in April 2004 for the "North Tohoku Biomass Project."

This project is designed to generate electricity by using the methane produced by applying the methane fermentation treatment to "food residues" of public institutions such as elementary and junior high schools as well as of food processing plants together with "excrement of livestock" produced from Koiwai Farm where construction of a biomass power plant is now under way.

* Biomass Power Shizukuishi Co., Ltd. is a company jointly invested by the municipality of Shizukuishi, Koiwai Farm, Ltd., Tohoku Electric Power Engineering & Construction Co., Inc., and two other private companies.

Wind Power Generation Business

Tohoku Natural Energy Development Co., Ltd. constructed Noshiro Wind Power Station capable of generating 14,400 kW with 24 600-kW wind turbines in the Asanai area of Noshiro city, Akita prefecture. The wind power station started commercial operation in November 2001.

This wind power station has participated in the "Green Power Certification System" now operated by Japan Natural Energy Co., Ltd.

Hydroelectric Power Generation Business

Tousei Kougyo Co., Inc. has been entirely engaged in the development, operation and maintenance of small- and medium-scale hydroelectric power stations. In March 2005, the company took over four hydroelectric power stations from the Fukushima prefectural government. Including these four stations, the company now has a total of 14 hydroelectric power stations, and is expanding its business scale as a company specializing in hydroelectric power generation.

Geothermal Power Generation Business

Matsukawa Geothermal Power Station

Tohoku Hydropower & Geothermal Energy Co., Inc. supplies geothermal steam for power generation and electricity generated by geothermal and hydroelectric power, capitalizing on abundant natural energy in the Tohoku region.

Matsukawa Geothermal Power Station is Japan's first commercial geothermal power station that came into operation in 1966. Its unique shaped cooling tower is the symbol of the station.

Recycling Business of Plant Working Fluid

Mobile Reconditioning Service (MRS)

Tohoku Ryokka Kankyohozen Co., Ltd. started the "Mobile Reconditioning Service (MRS)" that uses a dedicated truck and visits plants to treat and recycle on-site working fluids from various machines such as oil solutions, quenchants, detergents, etc., which are used in volume by the manufacturing industry. The company offers the service to help customers contribute to environmental protection and reduce costs, including reduction in CO2 through reduction in wastes produced at plants, etc.

Development and Sale of "FA-MICS" Water Treatment Agent Made of Coal Ash as Principal Materials

Tohoku Electric Power Engineering & Construction Co., Inc. has developed and now sells the "FA-MICS" water treatment agent by effectively utilizing coal ash. The FA-MICS is made of inorganic materials, and it has the characteristic of adsorbing polluted constituents with the physical and chemical properties of porous particles.

Moreover, the company sells and leases the FA-MICS-based water purification system (capable of purifying up to 20 cubic meters per hour) that can be applied to a wide range of fields such as rivers, lakes and marshes, waste water from mines, non-industrial waste water, etc.

Development and Sale of Eco-Charcoal Recycled from Wooden Cable Drums

The Eco Center of Kitanihon Electric Cable Co., Ltd. sells "Eco-Charcoal" recycled from wooden cable drums (cores of coiled electric wires and cables) that used to be eventually disposed of after several times of reuse.

As pine and cedar trees as the materials of wooden cable drums have many stomata as the characteristic of conifers, "Eco-Charcoal" can be a very good-quality "humidity control coal under the floor," which can control humidity and absorb smells. "Eco-Charcoal" can also improve air permeability, water permeability and water retention of soil as a soil conditioner and create the environment where crops grow well.

Construction of Facilities for New Energy and Distributed Power Sources

Power generation by new energies such as photovoltaic power and wind power as well as distributed power sources such as cogeneration cannot yield adequate effects, unless they fully exploit a variety of technologies and their specifications are optimized for respective sites.

Yurtec Corp. proposes optimum systems by integrating its technologies in the fields of indoor wiring, environment, power distribution and transmission, power generation and transformation, information communications, civil engineering, construction, etc., and making full use of its whole engineering functions.

Production and Sale of Wood Pellets Made from Rubbish in Rivers

Wood pellets

Agri-Power Co., Ltd., which was established in January 2002 as an internal venture company, processes rubbish collected from rivers into compost, sawdust, wood pellets, etc. The compost and sawdust are sold to local farmers, and wood pellets are sold as fuels for use in stoves, etc.

The company contributes to the invigoration of local industries and creation of environment-friendly recycling society through the promotion of wide use of wood pellets as renewable forest resources.

Latest Trend in FY2006

Effective Use of Coal Ash

Sakata Kyodo Power Co., Ltd. is now engaged in an attempt in cooperation with the Yamagata prefectural government to blend fly ash produced at coal-fired power plants into dredged soil and use it as low strength concrete. In 2006, the company completed a road for river bank management and walk for test purposes.

Road for river bank management