- Business
- Okinawa Electric Power Co. Inc. (Okinawa Electric Power Company, Incorporated) is an electric utility that generates, transmits, distributes, and retails electricity exclusively in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, operating 11 isolated systems across 38 inhabited islands including the Okinawa main island; it maintains approximately 140 substations and 11,078 km of distribution lines while generating power primarily from thermal sources such as coal-fired (752,000 kW at two locations), LNG-fired (502,000 kW at one location), oil-fired (375,000 kW at two locations), gas turbine (326,000 kW at five locations), and internal combustion (253,000 kW at 13 locations) facilities supplemented by wind power (2,000 kW at five locations) for a total capacity of 2,210,000 kW. The company offers retail electricity services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, alongside gas sales including natural gas and LNG; it provides energy-saving solutions such as LED fixtures, EcoCute induction heaters, air conditioning, and sanitation equipment installation; renewable energy systems including solar PV-TPO under the "karE-roof" brand, tiltable wind turbines, floating solar, and biomass co-firing; and comprehensive services encompassing civil engineering, electrical and telecommunications construction, power facility maintenance, environmental surveys, real estate leasing, internet data centers, call centers, aquaculture, non-life insurance, advertising, vehicle leasing, computer systems, and ISO certification support. Founded on May 15, 1972, and headquartered in Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan, the firm employs 3,128 people consolidated and pursues carbon neutrality by 2050 through initiatives like a -30% CO2 reduction target by FY2030 (versus FY2005 baseline via LNG expansion, biomass co-firing at Gushikawa and Kin plants, hydrogen co-firing validation at Yoshinoura (achieving 30% rate in FY2024), and renewable demonstrations on Hateruma and Kurimajima islands; in FY2025, it advances the Okiden PX Project for procurement optimization, DX acceleration, and P/L-cash effects exceeding ¥3-5 billion, alongside capital expenditures of ¥43.9 billion focused on replacing aging heavy oil units at Makiminato Thermal Power Plant with a 130,000 kW high-efficiency gas turbine combined cycle (FY2032 start, ammonia-compatible), Miyako No. 2 battery storage, and supply reliability upgrades. Recent strategic developments include its first off-site PPA sleeved in September 2025 delivering 1.7 GWh/year from Toda Corporation's Urasoe solar to Orion Hotel starting October 2025; a October 2025 cooperation agreement with Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. Chubu Electric Power Company, Incorporated and Indonesia's PT PLN (Persero) for diesel reduction via solar, batteries, and grid stabilization in island regions; and an August 2024 joint venture via subsidiary Seed Okinawa LLC with Tokyu Land Corporation Tokyu Land Corporation group for solar-plus-storage at Palau Pacific Resort. The company operates through electric utility (power generation, transmission, distribution, retail) and construction segments, with ancillary businesses in real estate, information-communications, and lifestyle support, targeting growth aligned with Okinawa's GW2050 PROJECTS economic vision amid tourism recovery and base land returns.