KAMIGUMI

News

Adoption of an electric propulsion ship to transport fuel for Aioi Biomass Power Plant --Reducing CO2 emissions from the biomass power generation supply chain--

Dec. 14, 2021

Kamigumi Co., Ltd.
The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
e5 Lab Inc.


Adoption of an electric propulsion ship to transport fuel for Aioi Biomass Power Plant
--Reducing CO2 emissions from the biomass power generation supply chain--


Kamigumi Co., Ltd. ("Kamigumi" hereinafter), The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. ("KEPCO" hereinafter), and e5 Lab Inc. ("e5 Lab" hereinafter) today agreed to adopt an electric propulsion ship to transport fuel to the Aioi Biomass Power Plant.*1

The adoption of the electric propulsion ship is a part of efforts to achieve carbon neutrality for the entire supply chain, which has become a key issue in recent years. Equipped with a compact generator and large-capacity storage battery, the electric propulsion ship will cut CO2 emissions by as much as 50%*2 compared to a conventional diesel ship.
Plans call for the ship to enter operations in May 2023 between the Port of Kobe and the power plant. This will be the world's first adoption of an electric propulsion ship to transport biomass fuel.

Kamigumi has implemented various initiatives to achieve the goal of carbon-neutral ports promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, including installing solar panels on the roofs of port warehouses. The adoption of the electric propulsion ship in the coastal cargo transport service is a part of these efforts which we will continue into the future.
KEPCO is currently promoting electrification of land, sea, and air transport, and this project marks the first occasion for KEPCO and e5 Lab to propose and decide on the adoption of an electric propulsion ship since the two companies formed a business alliance in October 2020.

All three companies will maintain efforts to contribute to the sustainable growth of Japan's shipping industry and to achieve a zero-carbon society.

*1: Aioi Bioenergy Corporation, a member of the KEPCO Group, is carrying out construction work on its power generation facility for conversion of fuel from heavy or crude oil to woody biomass. The facility is scheduled to begin operating in January 2023.
*2: Reductions: 400 t-CO2/year


Attachment: Adoption of an electric propulsion ship to transport fuel to Aioi Biomass Power Plant.pdf


<Reference>
November 28, 2018 news release:
Kamigumi Launches Silo Storage and Transport Business for Fuel Used in Biomass Power Plants
https://www.kamigumi.co.jp/english/news/2018/000176.html


For related inquiries, please contact the Public Relations Department.
TEL: +81-78-271-5110