Advancing operations, facility maintenance and fuel management

「Maintenance at エフオン日田 after two consecutive years of operation was more costly than usual, while expenses also increased at other power plants because of higher material and labor costs compared with the previous fiscal year.」

「For the group's power plants, the eF-On Shingu Power Plant underwent a planned shutdown for periodic maintenance in October, and the eF-On Hita and eF-On Shirakawa power plants each underwent a planned shutdown in November. Although the work was completed in a slightly shorter period than the usual periodic maintenance period, unplanned shutdowns occurred at the eF-On Hita and eF-On Mibu power plants outside the planned shutdowns due to lightning strikes and repairs to some auxiliary equipment.」

「The eF-On Shingu Power Plant operated at reduced output because of insufficient fuel procurement and was shut down for approximately 2 weeks in October for periodic maintenance.」

「The cost of periodic maintenance increased from the usual level because of higher component and labor costs and an increase in the number of equipment locations requiring work. In addition, costs related to routine maintenance and ash disposal increased, resulting in earnings falling substantially below the previous year.」

「In the power generation business within the Green Energy segment, there was no major trouble. The eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants carried out their annual inspections steadily as scheduled in November, while the other group power plants operated smoothly.」

「The eF-On Hita and eF-On Shingu power plants experienced transmission shutdowns caused by lightning strikes. In addition, the eF-On Shingu Power Plant experienced trouble with auxiliary boiler equipment, resulting in an unplanned shutdown of approximately 1 day.」

「In the group's power generation business, the eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants conducted periodic self-inspections in November, but operations otherwise proceeded steadily without any major trouble.」

「The eF-On Hita and eF-On Mibu power plants experienced transmission shutdowns caused by lightning strikes. In addition, the eF-On Hita Power Plant experienced trouble with auxiliary boiler equipment, resulting in an unplanned shutdown of approximately 1.5 days.」

「At the eF-On Hita Power Plant, a circulation failure in the boiler's silica-sand circulation system occurred in the first quarter, followed by trouble with a steam pipe in the furnace in the second quarter, substantially reducing electricity transmission volumes for the year. In the third quarter, the eF-On Shirakawa Power Plant underwent an emergency shutdown following an earthquake centered off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture and an unplanned shutdown of approximately 8 hours for inspections of its internal equipment. In the fourth quarter, the periodic inspection at eF-On Bungo-Ono was extended by approximately 2 days after the scope of maintenance was expanded as a preventive measure against future failures.」

「The eF-On Shirakawa Power Plant underwent an emergency shutdown following a magnitude 6 upper-intensity earthquake on 16 March, centered off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture. The equipment was unaffected and operations resumed approximately 8 hours later. The eF-On Mibu Power Plant also underwent a planned shutdown lasting just over 2 weeks for its annual periodic inspection.」

「In the power generation business, some power plants experienced unplanned shutdowns lasting approximately 4 days due to trouble during both the first and second quarters. In addition, electricity transmission volumes declined because the eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants conducted their regular annual inspections between October and November. During periods other than the shutdowns, the power plants operated smoothly, and together with energy-saving measures for auxiliary power consumption, total electricity transmission volumes exceeded those of the same period of the previous year.」

「Although some power plants experienced lower electricity transmission volumes due to trouble, energy-saving measures for auxiliary power consumption were promoted at each plant, resulting in total electricity transmission volumes exceeding those of the same period of the previous year.」

「Based on the operation of its 4 existing wood-biomass power plants, the company plans to leverage economies of scale by consolidating procurement of commonly used components to a certain extent and sharing and accumulating maintenance information, thereby further developing maintenance expertise and reducing costs.」

「EF-ON Mibu conducted its first annual inspection and underwent a planned outage of approximately 2 weeks, while the other 3 power plants operated smoothly.」

「The eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants underwent their regular annual maintenance, resulting in shutdowns of approximately 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the eF-On Bungo-Ono and eF-On Mibu power plants maintained high operating rates smoothly.」

「The Mibu Power Plant, which began operations in the second half of the previous fiscal year, experienced an unplanned outage lasting just under 1 week in September. However, its summer operations and fuel consumption proceeded smoothly and made a significant contribution to improved Group performance.」

「The moisture content of all types of fuel chips remained generally high, and difficulty in determining efficient moisture adjustment meant that we were unable to reduce fuel consumption by more than the decline in the electricity sales price resulting from increased use of recycled wood.」

「During the 9-month period ended in the third quarter, the existing eF-On Shirakawa, eF-On Hita and eF-On Bungo-Ono power plants operated smoothly while maintaining high operating rates. In addition, the newly established eF-On Mibu Power Plant operated at full capacity for almost 3 months, resulting in substantial increases in both revenue and profit.」

「At the other power plants, fuel consumption increased in the first quarter but was subsequently improved, allowing profit to recover to a certain extent and cover the higher costs associated with the new facilities.」

「We began with the aim of reducing total fuel consumption by limiting the use of unused wood. However, because the moisture content of all types of fuel fed into the biomass boilers remained relatively high, this did not produce the intended reduction in total consumption.」

「Annual periodic maintenance was conducted at the eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants in November. In October, the eF-On Bungo-Ono power plant experienced an unplanned shutdown lasting 47 hours owing to a failure of control-system equipment.」

「In October, the EF-ON Bungo-Ono power plant experienced an unplanned outage of 47 hours due to a failure of control-system equipment.」

「Moisture levels in the wood chips used as fuel increased because of heavy rain and typhoons, and fuel consumption increased as a result, causing operating profit to decline.」

「At each power plant, we have continued efforts to increase the use of unused wood chips and optimize the mix with virgin and recycled wood. As a result, average electricity selling prices at all plants improved from the previous consolidated fiscal year, setting a new record for revenue.」

「During the second quarter, the eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants underwent their statutory inspections, conducted once every 2 years, and each received periodic maintenance lasting approximately 2 weeks. During the other periods, including at the eF-On Bungo-Ono Power Plant, high operating rates were maintained. At each power plant, the utilization rate of unused wood improved from the same period of the previous year, and operations proceeded smoothly without trouble.」

「The eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants underwent their statutory inspections, which are conducted once every 2 years, and each received periodic maintenance lasting approximately 2 weeks. During the other periods, including at the eF-On Bungo-Ono Power Plant, high operating rates were maintained.」

「The エフオン豊後大野 wood biomass power plant achieved a high operating rate, while the utilization rate of unused wood improved at the エフオン白河 and エフオン日田 power plants, which also operated smoothly without incidents.」

「The existing エフオン白河 and エフオン日田 power plants also maintained high operating rates without incidents and operated smoothly, except during the shutdown period for scheduled maintenance in November.」

「The existing エフオン白河 and エフオン日田 power plants also maintained high operating rates without incidents and operated smoothly, except during the shutdown period for scheduled maintenance in November.」

「The wood-biomass power plant at eF-On Bungo-Ono, which began commercial operations in August, operated smoothly and contributed to revenue. The existing eF-On Shirakawa and eF-On Hita power plants also maintained high operating rates without any trouble.」

「We will develop and strengthen employee training and cooperation with local forestry and timber-industry stakeholders, focusing on further improving power plant operating technology, conducting appropriate maintenance and pursuing an optimal fuel mix.」