Energy
In order to contribute to preserving the global environment and creating sustainable societies, the JCU Group is committed to make effective use of energy.
Use of Renewable Energy
The JCU Group is driving forward with the use of renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As part of our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, solar power generation facilities were installed at the Niigata Plant in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, and the R&D Center in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, business sites in Japan where electricity consumption was particularly high.
We are working to use renewable energy at our overseas sites, and have installed solar panels at our plant in Hubei, China that are capable of producing about 40% of the plant’s maximum electricity consumption.
And to further expand the use of renewable energy sources, we have significantly increased the number of solar panels at our Niigata Plant in FY2022. The system has been fully operational since February 2023, and is expected to provide approximately 60% of the plant’s maximum power demand, contributing to further reductions in CO2 emissions going forward.
JCU will continue to take various other actions to achieve the goal of offsetting CO2 emissions at the Niigata Plant to zero in FY2030 (“Niigata Plant CO2 Zero”).
Effect of introducing solar power generation facilities
Changes in electricity consumption and in-house power generation at the Niigata Plant (installed solar power generation capacity: 100 kW)
Total CO2 emissions at offices in Japan by fiscal year
Carbon Offsetting Initiatives
From its location in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, JCU’s Niigata Plant supplies products destined for markets around the world. JCU is an advocate of the “Toki-no-Mori (Crested Ibis Forest) Project” which is run by the Prefecture of Niigata within Sado City limits, and is also an ongoing collaborator in carbon offsetting initiatives.
The aim of the Toki-no-Mori Project is to drive global warming countermeasures forward by securing the CO2 absorption capacity of trees, promote forest improvements, and revitalize forestry. The Project also aims to contribute to improving habitats for ibises that have been released into the wild and conserving the forest’s rich ecosystem.
In a forest within Sado City limits in Niigata, we see trees that have been culled with their lower branches pruned. Culling and pruning trees in this manner ensures that the forest gets enough light intensity, which in turn improves CO2 absorption efficiency. In addition, these procedures have the effect of suppressing pest insect outbreaks and promoting tree growth. These human interventions are a driver of our global warming countermeasures.
Currently, although their numbers are still small, we are able to observe ibises in the wild within Sado City limits. The ibises are gradually returning to their wild habitats thanks not only to the Toki-no - Mori Project but al so to various activities by local residents for improving the environment around their habitats.
Initiatives to Achieve “Zero CO2 Emissions”
As a measure to counter global warming, JCU makes every effort to identify and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
An aggregate survey of CO2 emissions from using electricity and gas at our domestic offices shows that we have succeeded in reducing FY2022 emissions by 27% from FY2013.
The Niigata Plant and R&D Center collectively account for about 90% of our total domestic CO2 emissions.
The Niigata Plant has been actively introducing renewable sources of energy, installing solar power generation facilities ahead of other sites, and making additions to these in 2022. As a result, the percentage of on-site solar-generated power grew by 3% from the previous year to 16.5%.
In addition, environmentally friendly activities are also constantly ongoing at the R&D Center, including the installation of a solar power generation system, energy-efficient air conditioning equipment, and LED lighting.
In our Medium-Term Corporate Plan, the JCU Group has set a goal of reducing CO2 emissions at the Niigata Plant to zero by FY2030 based on FY2013 emissions. The JCU Group will continue to make efforts to achieve its goals and contribute to society through environmentally conscious corporate activities.
Carbon Offsetting
Although the reduction of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions is very important in countering global warming, CO2 emissions remain an inevitable part of our daily lives and corporate activities.
Carbon offsetting refers to methods for making up for (offsetting) all or part of the CO2 emissions that occur despite our best emissions reduction efforts by funding forest improvement and other greenhouse gas reduction projects.
