A BCP is a strategy developed by companies and organizations to prepare for disasters and other emergencies.
With the increasing frequency of natural disasters due to global warming and heightened seismic activity, it is essential to have a plan in place to ensure the rapid restoration of critical operations and reduce the risks associated with business disruption. In Japan, awareness of BCPs has grown significantly since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

Preparing for power outages is a key component of a BCP.

Outages can last from a few minutes to several days or even weeks. For example, Typhoon No. 15 in September 2019 caused power outages in approximately 934,900 households—mainly in Chiba Prefecture, Japan—and full restoration took about two weeks.

Since electricity is essential for business operations, having countermeasures in place is critical to ensure a swift recovery in the event of an emergency.

Disaster prevention measures—such as installing emergency generators— are often implemented based on requirements under Japan’s Fire Service Act and Building Standards Act. These generators are primarily designed to supply electricity for critical equipment like fire suppression and evacuation systems during short-term outages.

However, disaster prevention measures alone may not be sufficient to ensure continued business operations during prolonged emergencies. This is where a BCP becomes essential.

Unlike emergency generators, cogeneration systems can operate continuously as long as fuel (such as natural gas or LPG) is available, making them more suitable for long-term use in BCPs.

Yanmar provides GHP and cogeneration systems capable of supplying electricity during power outages. Please feel free to contact us for more information.