Key Points
- Mitsubishi Power's CEO, Javier Cavada, believes gas and renewables can coexist in the energy transition.
- Gas can be an enabler of electrification and decarbonisation, providing inertia, frequency control, and dispatchable capacity.
- Hydrogen-ready turbines offer a practical route to near-zero-carbon thermal power, enabling power producers to reduce carbon emissions without replacing existing assets.
The Path to Net-Zero Emissions
Mitsubishi Power's CEO, Javier Cavada, believes that gas and renewables can coexist in the energy transition. He argues that gas can provide inertia, frequency control, and dispatchable capacity, making it an enabler of electrification and decarbonisation.
Cavada also highlights the importance of hydrogen-ready turbines, which can operate on a 50% hydrogen blend in a grid-connected environment. This technology has been validated and offers a practical route to near-zero-carbon thermal power.
According to Cavada, power producers can progressively reduce carbon emissions by increasing the proportion of hydrogen used as fuel, without replacing existing generating assets. This enables them to reduce the carbon intensity of power generation while continuing to provide reliable and flexible electricity.
At a Glance
| Mitsubishi Power | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group parent company |
| Javier Cavada | President and CEO of Mitsubishi Power EMEA interviewed |
| Hydrogen-ready turbines | 50% hydrogen blend in a grid-connected environment validated technology |
| Net-zero emissions | 2040 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group's target |
Behind the Scenes of Mitsubishi Power's Hydrogen Strategy
Behind the Scenes of Mitsubishi Power's Hydrogen Strategy
Cavada believes that every major energy transition has depended on long-term policy certainty, infrastructure investment, and clear market signals. He draws parallels with the development of solar and wind technologies, which faced steep barriers to entry but are now widespread and cost-effective.
Cavada also emphasizes the importance of engineering in making the energy transition possible. He argues that the technologies needed to decarbonise power generation already exist, but the real challenge is deploying them at scale while maintaining reliability, affordability, and resilience.
What this Means for the Energy Industry
What this Means for the Energy Industry
The energy industry can expect a gradual transition towards a future where gas and renewables work together to achieve net-zero emissions. This will involve the deployment of modernised grids, improved energy storage, and hydrogen-ready turbines.
Power producers will need to progressively reduce carbon emissions by increasing the proportion of hydrogen used as fuel, without replacing existing generating assets. This will enable them to reduce the carbon intensity of power generation while continuing to provide reliable and flexible electricity.
Risk & Opportunity Assessment
| Commercial Risk | Low | Mitsubishi Power has already validated its hydrogen-ready turbines and is committed to the energy transition |
| Competitive Risk | Medium | The energy transition will require significant investment and infrastructure development, which could create opportunities for competitors to enter the market |
| Regulatory Risk | Low | Governments are increasingly setting targets for net-zero emissions and investing in clean energy infrastructure |
| Reputation Risk | Low | Mitsubishi Power has a strong reputation for engineering excellence and reliability |
| Technology Disruption | Medium | The development of hydrogen-ready turbines and modernised grids could disrupt the traditional energy landscape |
| Commercial Opportunity | High | The energy transition creates significant opportunities for companies like Mitsubishi Power to develop and deploy new technologies |
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