Abstract
In 1995, the electric utility industry law was amended after the interval of 31 years. As deregulation of power wholesale, a bidding system of power generations was newly introduced and IPP (independent power producer) business started. In 1996, the first bidding was held and a hundred projects (10, 810MW) applied to six electric power companies. And in 1997, ninety two projects (14, 250MW) applied to seven electric power companies. Five projects using natural gas for fuel won the bidding.
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. won the bidding by Kansai Electric Power Company. A power generating system of the Osaka gas project comprises a gas turbine combined cycle system and an expansion turbine generator. This system performs high energy efficiency (51%) as well as the latest large size power station. And it is friendly to environment in terms of air pollution. Since natural gas does not contain sulfur originally, sulfur dioxide is not emitted. A low NOx combustion system and a denitration plant can reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide emission.
In the future, power generations by IPP will increase in Japan. Also, Japanese gas companies will develop their business in Southeast Asia where its energy demand is increasing.
