Promotion of Environmental Business by Companies in the Group

Biomass Power Generation Business

Biomass energy (bioresource) was defined as a 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 Koiwai Farm, Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Tohoku Electric Power Engineering & Construction Co., Inc., Tokyo Sangyo Co., Ltd., and the municipality of Shizukuishi.

Wind Power Generation Business

Tohoku Natural Energy Development Co., Ltd. constructed Noshiro Wind Power Station capable of generating 14,400 kW with 24 units of 600-kW windmill 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

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 large scale cooling tower is the symbol of the station.

Recycling Business of Plant Working Fluid

Tohoku Ryokka Kankyohozen Co., Ltd. provides the “Mobile Reconditioning Service (MRS)” that uses a dedicated truck and visits industrial 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 can help customers contribute to environmental protection and reduce costs, including reduction in CO2 through reduction in wastes produced at industrial plants, etc.

Development and Sale of Products Recycled from Woody Drums and Waste Plastics

Kitanihon Electric Cable Co., Ltd. actively addresses effective utilization of resources to create a recycling-oriented society through the sale of “Eco Charcoal” produced from woody drums (the core around which electric cables are wound) that used to be disposed of after several times of use, and development and sale of “Wani (alligator-shaped) W Stopper” that is a series of stoppers recycled from waste plastics of cable covers.

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 distributed power source 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

Agri Power Inc., 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 an environment-friendly recycling-oriented society through the promotion of wide use of wood pellets as renewable forest resources.