Technology Development in Electric Power Generation for a Low Carbon Society

Environmental issues are becoming increasingly apparent on a global scale with rising CO2 levels generated by a rapidly growing human population. At the same time, as pointed out by the Club of Rome in 1972, this population growth is also accelerating consumption of natural resources. In relation to CO2 reduction, a two-prong approach is being taken to reduce CO2 from the energy generation side and also from consumption side. On the generation side, we are concentrating on the proliferation of low-carbon energy such as nuclear and renewable energies, as well as increasing plant efficiency in thermal power generation along with Carbon-Capture-and-Storage (CCS) technologies. On the consumption side, efficient energy storage devices such as batteries are becoming a key issue in effective energy utilization together with the ongoing challenge towards ever greater efficiency of motors and inverters. This paper discusses current research activities in power generation technologies.