Yokosuka's controversial large coal-burning power plant in Kurihama

Yokosuka Coal-fired Power Plant, Kanagawa, Japan (nsenergybusiness.com)

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A 1.3GW coal-fired power plant is under construction at the former Yokosuka thermal power station site near the port of Kurihama, in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Yokosuka is one of the 22 new coal-fired power plants planned to be built in Japan by 2025 and it is the only coal-fired facility being constructed in Japan’s Greater Tokyo area.

The Yokosuka coal-fired power plant is being developed by Japan’s Energy for New Era (JERA), a 50:50 joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Chubu Electric.

Construction on the 1.3GW Yokosuka coal-fired facility was started in August 2019, while the two new units are scheduled to come online by 2023 and 2024, respectively.

PROJECT GALLERY

Location and site details

The two-unit coal-fired power plant is being developed on the former Yokosuka thermal power plant site that has a 60-year long history of serving Japan’s electricity needs.

The Yokosuka thermal power plant is located on a 202acre-site near the Yokosuka city in the Kanagawa Prefecture, in Japan’s Tokyo Bay area.

Yokosuka coal-fired power plant details

The Yokosuka coal-based power plant will be equipped with two ultra-supercritical (USC) coal-fired units of 650MW capacity each.

The USC units are designed to operate at greater efficiency by utilising a lesser amount of coal and emitting lesser quantities CO2 and SO2 compared to conventional coal-fired units.

JERA proposed to replace the pre-existing Yokosuka thermal power facility with two modern and efficient coal-fired generating units in September 2016.

It established the special-purpose company JERA Power Yokosuka to build and operate the new coal-based power plant at the Yokosuka site in March 2017.

The final environmental impact assessment (EIS) for the 1.3GW Yokosuka coal-fired power project was approved by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Government of Japan, in November 2018.

Controversy over the Yokosuka coal power project

In 2019, the Yokosuka coal-fired power project witnessed protests and opposition from local environmental groups against the CO2 emissions and air pollutants from the new generating units.

A group of residents of Yokosuka also sued the central government against the approval of an allegedly simplified environmental impact assessment report for the project by launching an administrative lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court in May 2019.

Yokosuka thermal power station history

Named after the nearby city, the Yokosuka thermal power station was developed with eight generating units for a total installed capacity of 2.2GW. It was owned and operated by TEPCO Fuel & Power, a subsidiary of TEPCO.

The facility comprised six 350MW steam turbine units running on heavy and crude oil, and two gas turbine units of 30MW and 144MW capacities that operated on light oil and city gas.

The six 350MW oil-fired units were commissioned between 1964 and 1970, while the 30MW gas turbine unit was brought online as an emergency generating facility in July 1971 and the 144MW gas turbine unit was commissioned in September 2007.

All of the operating units at the Yokosuka thermal power station were decommissioned between 2004 and 2010.

However, in the wake of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daichi nuclear disaster, two 350MW oil-fired units, as well as two gas turbine units of the Yokosuka thermal power plant, were restarted and operated as an emergency power generating facility until 2014.

All units of the Yokosuka thermal power station were fully decommissioned by March 2017.

Yokosuka Power Spot --- Kano Shrines

Yokosuka’s ‘lover’s shrines’ promise to grant Valentine’s wishes | Stripes Japan

(From Stars And Stripes newspaper, 30 January 2020, by Takahiro Takiguchi)

It’s that time again to grab that box of chocolates and surprise your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day. Lucky for you if you live near Yokosuka Naval Base, there is a power spot where couples and singles go to wish for love or marriage.

Uraga is a hair-pin shaped narrow bay that shields ships from heavy wind and high tide, offering an ideal port to any type of ship. You sure will enjoy great views of the blue bay, fishing and cargo ships berthed in the port on one side and mountains on the other, as you stroll along the bayside.

There are two traditional Shinto shrines facing each other with a quarter mile of bay separating them.  Known as the Lover’s Shrines, they are both called “Kano Jinja” (literally “shrine of wishes-come-true”), and are distinguished from each other by the location - Nishi Kano Shrine (west shrine) and Higashi Kano Shrine (east shrine).

It is a popular attraction for those looking for love and the shrines have a unique tradition to lock in the wish. At Nishi Kano Shrine, visitors purchase a magatama (comma-shaped bead) then place it inside an omamoribukuro (amulet case) only sold at Higashi Kano Shrine across the bay. Completing this task is said to bring luck, love and a wedding, if that is your wish.

I visited both shrines recently—but not for myself, as I am a married man, you know! A coworker of mine wanted to visit for their own wish.

Nishi Kano Shrine, built in 1842, was our first stop. The bead here was 500 yen (or about $4). We then headed via orange ferry boat to the Higashi Kano Shrine. This short cruise is an enjoyable way to look out over the bay and appreciate the port and ships docked there.

The east shrine, compared to its counterpart, is brighter and has a more open atmosphere with its tall shrine building and light green roof. We walked up the stone stairs and as we faced the shrine, made a wish for my coworker. With another 500 yen, I bought the coveted amulet case to secure my coworker’s wish.

The bead from the West Shrine fit in the cute amulet case perfectly. It sure will make her wish come true! As it is tiny and cute, this lucky charm can be a great souvenir for friends or family members.

Visit alone or with your sweetheart or with a friend (or coworker) who needs a little help in the love department. Whether or not my coworker’s luck changed after that visit is yet to be seen, but it was still fun to visit and wish for her future happiness. Maybe you’ll have better luck and the Lover’s Shrines will make your Valentine’s wish sure will come true.

Little-known fact --- Yokosuka's Tsukuihama Beach has hosted the Windsurfing World Cup since 2017

It's been a good 24 years since the Professional Windsurfing Association (PWA) last held a leg of its world cup tour in Japan, but the contest is finally back – with a little help from ANA et al. Yes, it's returning a few years before the Olympics and all that jazz – they're probably testing the waters. The prize up for grabs here is the Professional Slalom World Champion, which makes this the perfect opportunity to see windsurfers zigzag across the waves and admire some seriously intense maneuvering. The full lineup of contestants is yet to be released, but there's no doubt that you'll get to watch the best of the best. Whether you're a die-hard windsurfing fan or a casual beach bum looking for something to ogle, best make way to Tsukuihama Beach in May.

ANA Windsurfing World Cup Yokosuka | Things to do in Tokyo (timeout.com) 

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2017 Period from May 11 (Thu) to May 16 (Tuesday)Windsurfing World's top tournament "PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association) World Cup" 24 Year It will be held in Japan for the first time! The venue is Kanagawa Popular marine leisure in Yokosuka prefecture area Tsukuihama coast! The PWA World Cup is a world tour that turns around in 10 countries, especially in Europe Windsurfing It's a high-profile competition where you can see the skills of the world's riders in the near future!

This time, "ANA Windsurfing Along with introducing the outline of the World Cup Yokosuka (Fly! ANA Windsurfing World Cup Yokosuka Japan)Activity Japan Yokosuka of publication area Marine Sports· Activity We introduce the experience plan of Take a close look at the world class players riding Windsurfing Take your first try at Yokosuka area Other marine Activity It is also good to experience Let's play by feeling the sea breeze ~

World's premier event of windsurfing "PWA World Cup" held in Japan for the first time in 24 years! | Activity Japan

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Windsurfing has evolved through time by combining surfing and yachting, a particularly popular water sports in Europe. It is getting popular in Japan with its ability to cut through the wind and gliding on the water with an exhilarating feeling, which can be enjoyed regardless of any age. Yokosuka City and Miura City on the Miura Peninsula, only an hour by train from Tokyo, is a popular spot for water sports, especially windsurfing.

The “PWA Windsurfing World Cup” will be held this year at Miura Peninsula from May 10-15, 2019. A world tour going around 10 countries from Europe each year, you can watch the heated race where the world’s top professional competes for the best in the world.

That is not all, there are also food stands where you can taste the local products such as “Yokosuka Navy Curry,” specialties from the Miura Peninsula and the gourmets around the world.

See with your own eyes the speed and powerful movement of the world’s top riders in Tsukuihama Beach, Yokosuka City.

The world’s top rider rides the Sea of Japan! PWA Windsurfing World Cup Yokosuka Miura Japan will be held! ｜ att.JAPAN Guide de voyage au Japon / Information (att-japan.net)