The temperature is expected to rise nationwide on the 13th, but depending on the electric power companies, it is expected that the supply and demand will be severe in some areas, especially in the morning and evening.
This is because the inventory of LNG = liquefied natural gas, which is the fuel for thermal power generation, is decreasing, and each company continues to call for cooperation in saving electricity, such as using electricity efficiently.
On the 12th, the weather deteriorated nationwide, and the factory started operation after three consecutive holidays, so the supply and demand of electricity became severe, and the "usage rate", which indicates the ratio of demand to supply capacity, was temporarily 99% for Kansai Electric Power and Shikoku Electric Power. It rose to 98%.
The temperature is expected to rise nationwide on the 13th, but depending on the electric power companies, it is expected that the supply and demand will be severe in some areas, especially in the morning and evening.
Due to the recent cold weather, the demand for electricity has exceeded expectations, and the inventory of LNG = liquefied natural gas, which is the fuel for thermal power generation, is decreasing.
However, it is expected that the supply and demand of electricity will continue to be severe for the time being, as it will take some time for additional procurement due to a series of troubles at production facilities in Australia, the country of origin.
For this reason, each company has households and businesses continue to use heating, etc., while refraining from using lighting and other electrical equipment within the range that does not interfere with daily life, and electricity is efficient. We continue to call for cooperation in saving electricity, such as using it for.
Background of power tightness
There are factors in both supply and demand behind the tightening supply and demand of electricity this winter.
On the demand side, the reason is that the days are colder than expected and the use of heating is increasing.
Every year, electric power companies anticipate the demand for electric power in the event of a severe cold once every 10 years, and make a supply plan so that they can still secure sufficient reserve capacity.
However, due to the severe cold these days, demand continues to be high on the 8th of this month, with electricity demand exceeding expectations within the jurisdiction of seven major electric power companies such as Kyushu Electric Power and Chugoku Electric Power.
For this reason, the consumption of LNG = liquefied natural gas, which is the fuel for thermal power plants, has exceeded expectations, and inventories are declining nationwide.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, LNG emits about half the amount of carbon dioxide as coal, so the use of thermal power generation as fuel is increasing in Japan to reduce the burden on the environment, and thermal power generation using LNG is increasing. It accounts for nearly 40% of the total power generation in Japan.
However, according to JOGMEC, an independent administrative agency, there are a series of troubles at production facilities such as Australia and Malaysia, where LNG is imported, and demand for LNG in China and South Korea due to the effects of cold waves. It means that it is taking time to procure, such as traffic jams on the Panama Canal, which is the route from the producing country of the United States to Asia.
In addition, solar power generation, which is becoming more widespread nationwide, has been suffering from bad weather these days, and there are many days when the amount of power generation declines.
In addition, excluding those that have been decommissioned, 9 of the 33 nuclear power plants in Japan have passed the new regulatory standards and are restarting.
Due to these complex factors, the supply and demand of electricity is tight.
Expert "The supply and demand will continue to be tight for several weeks"
Junko Takeuchi, director of the International Institute for Environmental Economics, which specializes in energy issues, cites the lack of stock of LNG and liquefied natural gas, which are fuels for thermal power generation, in the background of the tight supply and demand of electricity. "This is because various factors such as coal-fired power generation and natural gas-fired power generation have spread due to the flow of decarbonization as well as the global cold wave, and ships are congested on the Panama Canal." ..
On top of that, regarding the outlook for the future, "Even if liquefied natural gas is procured, it will take at least 10 days to transport it from Qatar, for example. We should expect that supply and demand will continue to be tight for the next few days and weeks." Said.