Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant to Provide Environmental Value to JR East via Virtual PPA - Promoting Decarbonization in Railway Operations
Key facts
- Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant to Provide Environmental Value to JR East via Virtual PPA - Promoting Decarbonization in Railway Operations
- Hachinohe Biomass Power Co., Ltd., in collaboration with e-rex Co., Ltd., will provide environmental value (non-fossil certificates) to JR East through a Virtual PPA starting April 2026. This initiative transitions the plant from the FIT to the FIP system, contributing to a 35,000 t-CO2 reduction annually.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: March 28, 2026
Direct answer
Hachinohe Biomass Power Co., Ltd., in collaboration with e-rex Co., Ltd., will provide environmental value (non-fossil certificates) to JR East through a Virtual PPA starting April 2026. This initiative transitions the plant from the FIT to the FIP system, contributing to a 35,000 t-CO2 reduction annually.
- Citation
- Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant to Provide Environmental Value to JR East via Virtual PPA - Promoting Decarbonization in Railway Operations (March 28, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- March 28, 2026
Hachinohe Biomass Power Co., Ltd., in collaboration with e-rex Co., Ltd., will provide environmental value (non-fossil certificates) to JR East through a Virtual PPA starting April 2026. This initiative transitions the plant from the FIT to the FIP system, contributing to a 35,000 t-CO2 reduction annually.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 16:54
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (5h 4m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 10:00 (636h 0m after Collected)
Hachinohe Biomass Power Co., Ltd. (President: Hiroshi Yasuda) has partnered with e-rex Co., Ltd. (President: Hitoshi Honna) to provide environmental value to East Japan Railway Company (JR East) starting April 2026. This initiative is based on a Virtual PPA (Power Purchase Agreement), a long-term contract for purchasing only the environmental value of renewable energy power plants. Since consumers can use renewable energy without changing their existing electricity contracts, it is becoming a popular means of supporting corporate decarbonization.
In this project, the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant, which has been operated under the FIT (Feed-in Tariff) system, will transition to the FIP (Feed-in Premium) system. It will provide environmental value equivalent to approximately 85 million kWh per year to JR East, corresponding to an annual reduction of about 35,000 t-CO2. This contributes to a reduction of approximately 2% of JR East's total CO2 emissions. Through this effort, we aim to contribute to the independence of renewable energy sources and work toward achieving a carbon-neutral society.
Outline of the Initiative: JR East will purchase environmental value equivalent to the total amount of power transmitted from the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant through the e-rex Group. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is promoting the transition of FIT power sources to the FIP system to make renewable energy a main power source, and this plant will also transition to business operations using the FIP system from April 2026.
About the Companies: Hachinohe Biomass Power Co., Ltd. was jointly established by Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., and JR East to expand the utilization of forest resources and create eco-friendly energy. Since starting operations in April 2018, it has supplied electricity equivalent to approximately 27,000 general households. It operates as a biomass power plant fueled exclusively by domestic, unused forest wood from local Aomori and Iwate prefectures. It is certified as a regional resource biomass power facility for its contribution to forestry promotion and its stable supply unaffected by weather conditions. We will continue to work on creating eco-friendly renewable energy with the local community.
In this project, the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant, which has been operated under the FIT (Feed-in Tariff) system, will transition to the FIP (Feed-in Premium) system. It will provide environmental value equivalent to approximately 85 million kWh per year to JR East, corresponding to an annual reduction of about 35,000 t-CO2. This contributes to a reduction of approximately 2% of JR East's total CO2 emissions. Through this effort, we aim to contribute to the independence of renewable energy sources and work toward achieving a carbon-neutral society.
Outline of the Initiative: JR East will purchase environmental value equivalent to the total amount of power transmitted from the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant through the e-rex Group. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is promoting the transition of FIT power sources to the FIP system to make renewable energy a main power source, and this plant will also transition to business operations using the FIP system from April 2026.
About the Companies: Hachinohe Biomass Power Co., Ltd. was jointly established by Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., and JR East to expand the utilization of forest resources and create eco-friendly energy. Since starting operations in April 2018, it has supplied electricity equivalent to approximately 27,000 general households. It operates as a biomass power plant fueled exclusively by domestic, unused forest wood from local Aomori and Iwate prefectures. It is certified as a regional resource biomass power facility for its contribution to forestry promotion and its stable supply unaffected by weather conditions. We will continue to work on creating eco-friendly renewable energy with the local community.
FAQ
Which companies are involved in the partnership to provide environmental value from the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant to JR East?
Hachinohe Biomass Power Co., Ltd., e-rex Co., Ltd., and East Japan Railway Company (JR East) are involved in the partnership starting April 2026.
What type of agreement enables JR East to receive environmental value from the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant without changing its electricity contract?
A Virtual PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) allows JR East to receive environmental value starting in April 2026 without altering its existing electricity contract.
How much annual CO2 reduction is expected from the environmental value provided by the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant to JR East?
The project will reduce approximately 35,000 t-CO2 annually, equivalent to the environmental value of 85 million kWh per year.
When will the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant transition from the FIT to the FIP system, and what supports this change?
The plant will transition to the FIP system in April 2026, supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's policy for renewable energy.
What percentage of JR East's total CO2 emissions will be reduced through this initiative with the Hachinohe Biomass Power Plant?
The initiative will contribute to a reduction of approximately 2% of JR East's total annual CO2 emissions starting in April 2026.