Akita Thermal Power Station Explained

Akita Thermal Power Station
秋田火力発電所
Country:Japan Akita Prefecture#Japan
Location:Akita, Akita Prefecture, Japan
Coordinates:39.7836°N 140.0486°W
Owner:Tohoku Electric
Status:O
Th Fuel Primary:Heavy Oil / Crude Oil
Ps Units Operational:2
Ps Units Uc:3
Ps Electrical Capacity:950 MW
Commissioned:1970

is an oil-fired thermal power station operated by Tohoku Electric in the city of Akita, Akita, Japan. The facility is located overlooking the Oga Peninsula on the Sea of Japan coast of Honshu. It also conducts remote monitoring of the four geothermal power plants Tohokou Electric operates.

History

The Akita Thermal Power Station was built to provide baseline power to the Tohoku region of Japan, including Akita Prefecture. Unit 1 came online in August 1970, followed by Unit 2 in February 1972, Unit 3 in November 1974 and Unit 4 in July 1980.

Due to aging equipment and a decline in demand, Unit 1 was scrapped in December 2003. Unit 3 was likewise abolished in September 2019. Unit 2 has been taken offline for maintenance, but is not expected to restart. The remaining Unit 4 is also in the process of being phased out.

Due to damage to the nation-wide grid caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, an emergency Unit 5 was rushed into operation in 2012. This unit was originally scheduled to be abolished in September 2018; however, due to unusually severe winter conditions and greater-than-anticipated demand, it was kept on line to Match 2019. After it was scrapped, the gas turbine used at this plant was sent to be installed at the Higashi Niigata Thermal Power Station, Unit 4–1.

Plant details

UnitFuelTypeCapacityOn lineStatus
1Crude Oil, Heavy OilSteam turbine350 MW1970Scrapped 2003
2Crude Oil, Heavy OilSteam turbine350 MW1972Offline
3Crude Oil, Heavy OilSteam turbine350 MW1974Scrapped 2019
4Crude Oil, Heavy OilSteam turbine600 MW1980Scrapped 2024[1]
5Light OilGas turbine3.33 MW2012Scrapped 2019

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tohoku EPCO decommissions Akita Thermal Power Station's last operational unit . 2024-07-05 . Japan Energy Hub . en-US.