Chubu Electric's Taketoyo Unit 5 shifts to biomass co-firing as part of Japan's coal transition

Chubu Electric Power is repositioning its Taketoyo Unit 5, a 1,070 MW ultra-supercritical coal plant in Aichi Prefecture, by adding large-scale woody biomass co-firing to cut lifecycle emissions. The unit now integrates dedicated biomass handling and combustion systems, allowing a share of thermal input from renewable fuel. The company frames this as a transitional step to keep baseload power flowing while reducing CO2 intensity, with a 50 percent emissions reduction target by 2030 relative to 2013 levels. The shift responds to regulatory pressure, environmental litigation, and industrial customer demands for cleaner supply chains in the Nagoya region. Chubu Electric argues that high-efficiency coal with biomass co-firing can serve as backup for variable renewables like solar and offshore wind. Environmental groups remain skeptical about sourcing and lifecycle accounting, but Japan's government supports this path as a realistic transition. The plant's coastal location simplifies biomass imports, and the utility applies procurement guidelines aligned with international standards.