Environmental Technological Innovation - NEDO C over Illustration The motif of a single leaf is used to represent the beginning of a bright future made possible by technologies that

[2nd Featured Article]Deploying Low Carbon Technology in the World through Promotion of

the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism)

The COP21 Report

[1st Featured Article]Combating Global Warming

Environmental Technological Innovation

2016No.59

Reporting on Today and Tomorrow’s Energy, Environment and Industrial Technologies

03

Cover IllustrationThe motif of a single leaf is used to represent the beginning of a bright future made possible by technologies that solve the global environment issues.

nd2From Kyoto to Paris - At the COP21 held in Paris in December 2015, minimumrequirements were discussed to establish a new framework after 2020 as a continuationfrom the Kyoto Protocol. NEDO dispatched its team in attendance and here to introduce details about side eventsheld at the conference site, as well as NEDO’s JCM related activities around the world.

COP21 and JCM Featured Article

04 [INTRODUCTION] Combating Global Warming Environmental Technological Innovation[INTERVIEW] 06 Protecting Tomorrow and Building the Future.NEDO’s Environmental Technology Projects to Contribute toImproving the Environment of the WorldNEDO Environment Department Director General Akira Yasui

[TECHNOLOGY REPORT] 08

12 [EVENT REPORT] Deploying Low Carbon Technology in the World through Promotion of the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism)

The COP21 Report

14

Noteworthy Environmental Technology Fluorocarbons Reduction Technologies / Artificial Photosynthesis

JCM Related Activities Implemented by NEDO around the World

［PROJECT REPORT］

st1

02

2016No.59

Reporting on Today and Tomorrow’s Energy,Environmental and Industrial Technologies

“Focus NEDO” is the public relations magazine of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), introducing the public to NEDO’s various projects and technology development activities related to energy, environmental and industrial technologies.

Ever since NEDO’s establishment in 1980, in order to achieve sustainable development compatible with both the environment andeconomy while overcoming environmental, resource and energy constraints, NEDO has been contributing to dealing with theproblems of global warming, to realizing a resource-circulating society in harmony with the environment, and to building a safe, secure society. This issue presents technologies that are currently being developed by NEDO and will be essential in solving the problem of global warming.

Environmental Technology Featured Article

The COP21 Conference was held at the Conference Centre in Le Bourget, approximately 10 kilometers northeast of central Paris. In front of the entrance, pillars stood in the order of country names in French adorned with the national flags of each country.

focus NEDO 2016 No.59

03

Cover IllustrationThe motif of a single leaf is used to represent the beginning of a bright future made possible by technologies that solve the global environment issues.

nd2From Kyoto to Paris - At the COP21 held in Paris in December 2015, minimumrequirements were discussed to establish a new framework after 2020 as a continuationfrom the Kyoto Protocol. NEDO dispatched its team in attendance and here to introduce details about side eventsheld at the conference site, as well as NEDO’s JCM related activities around the world.

COP21 and JCM Featured Article

04 [INTRODUCTION] Combating Global Warming Environmental Technological Innovation[INTERVIEW] 06 Protecting Tomorrow and Building the Future.NEDO’s Environmental Technology Projects to Contribute toImproving the Environment of the WorldNEDO Environment Department Director General Akira Yasui

[TECHNOLOGY REPORT] 08

12 [EVENT REPORT] Deploying Low Carbon Technology in the World through Promotion of the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism)

The COP21 Report

14

Noteworthy Environmental Technology Fluorocarbons Reduction Technologies / Artificial Photosynthesis

JCM Related Activities Implemented by NEDO around the World

［PROJECT REPORT］

st1

02

2016No.59

Reporting on Today and Tomorrow’s Energy,Environmental and Industrial Technologies

“Focus NEDO” is the public relations magazine of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), introducing the public to NEDO’s various projects and technology development activities related to energy, environmental and industrial technologies.

Ever since NEDO’s establishment in 1980, in order to achieve sustainable development compatible with both the environment andeconomy while overcoming environmental, resource and energy constraints, NEDO has been contributing to dealing with theproblems of global warming, to realizing a resource-circulating society in harmony with the environment, and to building a safe, secure society. This issue presents technologies that are currently being developed by NEDO and will be essential in solving the problem of global warming.


The COP21 Conference was held at the Conference Centre in Le Bourget, approximately 10 kilometers northeast of central Paris. In front of the entrance, pillars stood in the order of country names in French adorned with the national flags of each country.

focus NEDO 2016 No.59

04


st1C o m b a t i n g G l o b a l W a r m i n g

05focus NEDO 2016 No.59

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NEDO is actively making efforts toward technological measures to deal with fluorocarbons, particularly focusing on the development of technologies that employ low GWP* refrigerant in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning where greenhouse gas emissions are anticipated to increase in the future. While making every effort to maintain its convenience, NEDO aims to make broad and direct contributions to reducing greenhouse gases.

*GWP (Global Warming Potential): The strength of the global warming effect of a given substance is expressed as a number relative to the global warming effect of carbon dioxide, which is defined as 1.0.

NEDO is working to strengthen international competitiveness through operational demonstration of improved longevity for water treatment systems as well as improving the sophistication and energy efficiency of water treatment technology.

NEDO is promoting the technological development of processes for Green Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) necessary for surmounting environmental constraints and manufacturing chemical products sustainably. In addition, by making the most of world-level “catalyst technology,” NEDO is engaging in technology development of GSC processes, aiming to simultaneously resolve resource and environmental challenges while maintaining global competitiveness.

P08 Topic

FluorocarbonsReduction Technologies

1 Topic

Artificial Photosynthesis2P10

Five Technological Fields where the NEDO Environment Department is Making Efforts

NEDO is making efforts to establish and appropriately use technology utilizing coal compatible with the environment, while expanding this technology around the world.

Clean Coal Technology Field Water Circulation Field

3R FieldNEDO is promoting optimal high efficiency recycling technology to deal with scarce and regionally uneven resource supply with the goal of stable distribution. Furthermore, NEDO is supporting overseas development of recycling industries in order to make progress internationally in reducing environmental burdens and promoting resource circulation.

Ever since its establishment in 1980, NEDO’s mission has been to achieve sustainable development compatible with both the environment and economy while overcoming environmental, resource and energy constraints. Global environmental issues have been drawn much attention as the COP21 Conference was held in December of last year. Here we introduce technologies that NEDO has been developing to resolve global environmental problems.

Environmental Technol ogical Innovation

04


st1C o m b a t i n g G l o b a l W a r m i n g

05focus NEDO 2016 No.59

Glo

bal W

arm

ing

Cou

nter

mea

sure

Fie

ld

Envi

ronm

enta

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hem

istry

Fie

ldNEDO is actively making efforts toward technological measures to deal with fluorocarbons, particularly focusing on the development of technologies that employ low GWP* refrigerant in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning where greenhouse gas emissions are anticipated to increase in the future. While making every effort to maintain its convenience, NEDO aims to make broad and direct contributions to reducing greenhouse gases.

*GWP (Global Warming Potential): The strength of the global warming effect of a given substance is expressed as a number relative to the global warming effect of carbon dioxide, which is defined as 1.0.

NEDO is working to strengthen international competitiveness through operational demonstration of improved longevity for water treatment systems as well as improving the sophistication and energy efficiency of water treatment technology.

NEDO is promoting the technological development of processes for Green Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) necessary for surmounting environmental constraints and manufacturing chemical products sustainably. In addition, by making the most of world-level “catalyst technology,” NEDO is engaging in technology development of GSC processes, aiming to simultaneously resolve resource and environmental challenges while maintaining global competitiveness.

P08 Topic

FluorocarbonsReduction Technologies

1 Topic

Artificial Photosynthesis2P10

Five Technological Fields where the NEDO Environment Department is Making Efforts

NEDO is making efforts to establish and appropriately use technology utilizing coal compatible with the environment, while expanding this technology around the world.

Clean Coal Technology Field Water Circulation Field

3R FieldNEDO is promoting optimal high efficiency recycling technology to deal with scarce and regionally uneven resource supply with the goal of stable distribution. Furthermore, NEDO is supporting overseas development of recycling industries in order to make progress internationally in reducing environmental burdens and promoting resource circulation.

Ever since its establishment in 1980, NEDO’s mission has been to achieve sustainable development compatible with both the environment and economy while overcoming environmental, resource and energy constraints. Global environmental issues have been drawn much attention as the COP21 Conference was held in December of last year. Here we introduce technologies that NEDO has been developing to resolve global environmental problems.

Environmental Technol ogical Innovation

07

------------ A range of perspectives are required in regard to problem-solving technology as global environmental issues are becoming more diverse. What type of environmental technologies has NEDO been working on up until now?Yasui: As “global warming” was becoming known as a societal problem in the 1990s, NEDO began working to develop various technologies aiming to build “sustainable social systems” in order to solve environmental issues that had become global. In particular, the Environment Department is responsible for a significant part of the reduction goals of the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan and, as the sole Japanese public technology development organization working on this, has achieved substantial results in terms of developing technologies to reduce fluorocarbons that are a significant driver in global warming.

Notable efforts in NEDO’s history of fluorocarbons reduction technology development include “Development of Chlorine Fluorinated Gas Substitutes” launched in fiscal year (FY) 1996 and “Development of Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Technology”. With “Development of Chlorine Fluorinated Gas Substitutes” NEDO aimed to develop an alternative that would replace fluorocarbons that destruct the ozone layer and function as

a greenhouse gas. “Development of Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Technology” developed technologies to recover fluorocarbons that have such a large impact on the environment and destroy them before harming the environment. Recently NEDO has started working on developing “non-fluorocarbon technologies” that does not use fluorinated gases to reflect the recent changes surrounding fluorocarbons.------------ In other words, the environmental technology being sought is changing with the times.Yasui: Even before the enactment of “Fluorocarbons Emission Control Law” in April 2015, NEDO focused on the implementation of the law and started working on research and development looking at the entire product life cycle, from the time of product manufacturing to leak prevention when the product is being used, to its disposal.

Environmental Technological Innovation Emerging from a Wide Range of Approaches------------ In terms of innovation in the environmental field, what kinds of technologies are noteworthy at present?Yasui: As a revolutionary technological development viewed from a mid- to long-term perspective, the technology of “artificial photosynthesis” is gaining attention. In the same way plants performs photosynthesis, this clean technology creates useful material from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. Currently NEDO is working on developing a fundamental technology for innovative chemical product manufacturing process that creates raw materials of plastics from hydrogen and carbon dioxide through the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen via the catalyst of sunlight. Given that carbon dioxide is used as the raw material, if this process can be achieved, not only is the degree of dependence on fossil fuels in chemical product production reduced, but it will also contribute to preventing global warming.

For many years the NEDO Environment Department has been working on developing “clean coal technology” to efficiently and with low carbon utilize coals that is the most utilized resource for electrical generation in the world. In addition, the Department is promoting unified development between the public and private sectors in the field of water circulation, beginning with membrane technology essential to water treatment, energy-efficient low environmental impact water circulation systems and sea water desalination. In the field of 3R, the Environment Department is also

Environmental Technology Featured Articlest1

06 focus NEDO 2016 No.59

working on projects to prevent resource supply risk developing recycling systems to recover and recycle used rare earth elements.

Five technology areas the Environment Department is working on (global warming countermeasures, environmental chemistry, clean coal technology, water circulation and 3R) seem to have unrelated goals with one another at first glance, but NEDO believes that as each technology expands in society, they will be part of the solution to these ever more diverse and complex global environmental problems, not only global warming, but also energy conservation and resource issues among others. Through not only domestic use, but expanded on a global scale, these technologies can make a contribution to reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions for each country.

Aiming to Work Immediately on Solutions and Become a Front Runner in Combating Global Warming------------ I would like to ask you about the outlook for what NEDO should be working on in regard to global environmental problems going forward.

Yasui: In the past, each country would decide individually how to solve environmental issues, but we have now come to an era when we must work from a broad global perspective. Naturally, solving urgent problems are important, but we also need to predict what problems might occur in the future and to work to solve them immediately. Even with global warming alone, there are many causes and influences and we need a range of approaches geared toward solving it. Given this situation, one of the NEDO’s central themes is to contribute to improving the global environment in the next ten and twenty years. Working closely with many Japanese companies that have advanced technological capability and aiming to “develop the Japanese environmental industry to contribute to improving the global environment”, NEDO will strive to promote and expand NEDO’s environmental technology as the world’s leading global warming countermeasures.

Significant Results from the Reduction ofFluorocarbons Emissions Toward Building a “Sustainable Society System”

Joined the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1989. Served as New and Renewable Energy Division Director and Functional Chemistry Division Director. In addition to serving as Niigata Prefectural Office’s General Affairs Division Director he also served as Coal Division Director in the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. He began serving as NEDO Environment Department Director General in May 2014 where he serves at present.

NEDO has been conducting a wide range of technological development geared toward solving a variety of global environmental issues in society. Furthermore, technology for resolving “global warming” is gaining more and more interest, as the COP21 was held in December 2015. We spoke with the NEDO Environment Department Director General Akira Yasui.

+2.3

1.5

1.6

Absorption resources:3.8CDM and others:1.6

6.0

1059

151

51※2

-----

1261

1089

132

31

(68)

1186

Energy originCO2

Non-energy origin CO2, CH4, N2O

HFCs, PFCs, SF6

Forest absorptionand CDM

Total greenhousegas emission amount

Base year Yearly average in firstcommitment period (*1)

Unit: 1 million tons CO2

Change from base yearoverall emissions (%)

<Breakdown of “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan” (6% reduction compared with 1990)>As part of the 6% reduction in emissions targeted by Japan under the "Kyoto Protocol", reduction of emissions of three fluorinated gases accounts for 1.6%.

*1: Kyoto Protocol first commitment period is from 2008 to 2012.*2: Converted to CO2 emission amount ratio in the base year of 1995 in the field of three fluorinated gases. 　 Target values are based on “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan” (revised March 2008).

* The above figures have been rounded off and individual column totals may not agree

Akira YASUI

Protecting Tomorrow and Building the Future. NEDO’s Environmental Technology Projectsto Contribute to Improvingthe Environmentof the World

Timeline of Measures to SolveGlobal Warming and NEDOEfforts in the Field ofFluorocarbons ReductionIn 1992 the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” was adopted in order to prevent global warming, and the adoption of the “Kyoto Protocol” in 1997 was based on this.As HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 became part of the reduction targets in the Kyoto Protocol, NEDO made the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emission reduction target achievement one of the top priorities and began exploring ways to deal with fluorocarbons from a variety of perspectives by supporting technological development. Currently NEDO is actively conducting technological development to utilize low GWP refrigerants in air conditioning units. 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

2008-2012: Kyoto ProtocolFirst Commitment Period International regulations

Domestic regulations

NEDOFluorocarbons

ReductionProjects

2002: Fluorocarbons Recoveryand Destruction Law enacted

1998-2005: Guidelines for Measuresto Prevent Global Warming

2005-2012: Kyoto ProtocolTarget Achievement Plan

2007: Fluoro carbons Recovery and Destruction Amendment Law enacted

2015: Act for Rationalized Use and ProperManagement of Fluorocarbons enacted

1997: Kyoto Protocol adopted1992: United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change adopted

Development of new substitutes

Development of recoveryand destruction technology

Development of non-fluorocarbon technologies (to reduce GWP values)

21.9

0.8

0.7

2.6

26.0

1235

134

39

ー

1408

927

124

29

(37)

1042

Energy origin CO2

2013 2030


Change from 2013 overallemission amount (%)

<Breakdown of Japanese Reduction Target in the Paris Agreement>

Non-energy originCO2, CH4, N2O

HFCs, PFCs, SF6, NF3

Forest absorption


RegulatoryTrends

NEDO Environment Department Director General Akira Yasui

07

------------ A range of perspectives are required in regard to problem-solving technology as global environmental issues are becoming more diverse. What type of environmental technologies has NEDO been working on up until now?Yasui: As “global warming” was becoming known as a societal problem in the 1990s, NEDO began working to develop various technologies aiming to build “sustainable social systems” in order to solve environmental issues that had become global. In particular, the Environment Department is responsible for a significant part of the reduction goals of the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan and, as the sole Japanese public technology development organization working on this, has achieved substantial results in terms of developing technologies to reduce fluorocarbons that are a significant driver in global warming.

Notable efforts in NEDO’s history of fluorocarbons reduction technology development include “Development of Chlorine Fluorinated Gas Substitutes” launched in fiscal year (FY) 1996 and “Development of Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Technology”. With “Development of Chlorine Fluorinated Gas Substitutes” NEDO aimed to develop an alternative that would replace fluorocarbons that destruct the ozone layer and function as

a greenhouse gas. “Development of Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Technology” developed technologies to recover fluorocarbons that have such a large impact on the environment and destroy them before harming the environment. Recently NEDO has started working on developing “non-fluorocarbon technologies” that does not use fluorinated gases to reflect the recent changes surrounding fluorocarbons.------------ In other words, the environmental technology being sought is changing with the times.Yasui: Even before the enactment of “Fluorocarbons Emission Control Law” in April 2015, NEDO focused on the implementation of the law and started working on research and development looking at the entire product life cycle, from the time of product manufacturing to leak prevention when the product is being used, to its disposal.

Environmental Technological Innovation Emerging from a Wide Range of Approaches------------ In terms of innovation in the environmental field, what kinds of technologies are noteworthy at present?Yasui: As a revolutionary technological development viewed from a mid- to long-term perspective, the technology of “artificial photosynthesis” is gaining attention. In the same way plants performs photosynthesis, this clean technology creates useful material from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. Currently NEDO is working on developing a fundamental technology for innovative chemical product manufacturing process that creates raw materials of plastics from hydrogen and carbon dioxide through the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen via the catalyst of sunlight. Given that carbon dioxide is used as the raw material, if this process can be achieved, not only is the degree of dependence on fossil fuels in chemical product production reduced, but it will also contribute to preventing global warming.

For many years the NEDO Environment Department has been working on developing “clean coal technology” to efficiently and with low carbon utilize coals that is the most utilized resource for electrical generation in the world. In addition, the Department is promoting unified development between the public and private sectors in the field of water circulation, beginning with membrane technology essential to water treatment, energy-efficient low environmental impact water circulation systems and sea water desalination. In the field of 3R, the Environment Department is also


06 focus NEDO 2016 No.59

working on projects to prevent resource supply risk developing recycling systems to recover and recycle used rare earth elements.

Five technology areas the Environment Department is working on (global warming countermeasures, environmental chemistry, clean coal technology, water circulation and 3R) seem to have unrelated goals with one another at first glance, but NEDO believes that as each technology expands in society, they will be part of the solution to these ever more diverse and complex global environmental problems, not only global warming, but also energy conservation and resource issues among others. Through not only domestic use, but expanded on a global scale, these technologies can make a contribution to reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions for each country.

Aiming to Work Immediately on Solutions and Become a Front Runner in Combating Global Warming------------ I would like to ask you about the outlook for what NEDO should be working on in regard to global environmental problems going forward.

Yasui: In the past, each country would decide individually how to solve environmental issues, but we have now come to an era when we must work from a broad global perspective. Naturally, solving urgent problems are important, but we also need to predict what problems might occur in the future and to work to solve them immediately. Even with global warming alone, there are many causes and influences and we need a range of approaches geared toward solving it. Given this situation, one of the NEDO’s central themes is to contribute to improving the global environment in the next ten and twenty years. Working closely with many Japanese companies that have advanced technological capability and aiming to “develop the Japanese environmental industry to contribute to improving the global environment”, NEDO will strive to promote and expand NEDO’s environmental technology as the world’s leading global warming countermeasures.

Significant Results from the Reduction ofFluorocarbons Emissions Toward Building a “Sustainable Society System”

Joined the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1989. Served as New and Renewable Energy Division Director and Functional Chemistry Division Director. In addition to serving as Niigata Prefectural Office’s General Affairs Division Director he also served as Coal Division Director in the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. He began serving as NEDO Environment Department Director General in May 2014 where he serves at present.

NEDO has been conducting a wide range of technological development geared toward solving a variety of global environmental issues in society. Furthermore, technology for resolving “global warming” is gaining more and more interest, as the COP21 was held in December 2015. We spoke with the NEDO Environment Department Director General Akira Yasui.

+2.3

1.5

1.6

Absorption resources:3.8CDM and others:1.6

6.0

1059

151

51※2

-----

1261

1089

132

31

(68)

1186

Energy originCO2

Non-energy origin CO2, CH4, N2O

HFCs, PFCs, SF6

Forest absorptionand CDM


Base year Yearly average in firstcommitment period (*1)


Change from base yearoverall emissions (%)

<Breakdown of “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan” (6% reduction compared with 1990)>As part of the 6% reduction in emissions targeted by Japan under the "Kyoto Protocol", reduction of emissions of three fluorinated gases accounts for 1.6%.

*1: Kyoto Protocol first commitment period is from 2008 to 2012.*2: Converted to CO2 emission amount ratio in the base year of 1995 in the field of three fluorinated gases. 　 Target values are based on “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan” (revised March 2008).

* The above figures have been rounded off and individual column totals may not agree

Akira YASUI

Protecting Tomorrow and Building the Future. NEDO’s Environmental Technology Projectsto Contribute to Improvingthe Environmentof the World

Timeline of Measures to SolveGlobal Warming and NEDOEfforts in the Field ofFluorocarbons ReductionIn 1992 the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” was adopted in order to prevent global warming, and the adoption of the “Kyoto Protocol” in 1997 was based on this.As HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 became part of the reduction targets in the Kyoto Protocol, NEDO made the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emission reduction target achievement one of the top priorities and began exploring ways to deal with fluorocarbons from a variety of perspectives by supporting technological development. Currently NEDO is actively conducting technological development to utilize low GWP refrigerants in air conditioning units. 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

2008-2012: Kyoto ProtocolFirst Commitment Period International regulations

Domestic regulations

NEDOFluorocarbons

ReductionProjects

2002: Fluorocarbons Recoveryand Destruction Law enacted

1998-2005: Guidelines for Measuresto Prevent Global Warming

2005-2012: Kyoto ProtocolTarget Achievement Plan

2007: Fluoro carbons Recovery and Destruction Amendment Law enacted

2015: Act for Rationalized Use and ProperManagement of Fluorocarbons enacted

1997: Kyoto Protocol adopted1992: United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change adopted

Development of new substitutes

Development of recoveryand destruction technology

Development of non-fluorocarbon technologies (to reduce GWP values)

21.9

0.8

0.7

2.6

26.0

1235

134

39

ー

1408

927

124

29

(37)

1042

Energy origin CO2

2013 2030


Change from 2013 overallemission amount (%)

<Breakdown of Japanese Reduction Target in the Paris Agreement>

Non-energy originCO2, CH4, N2O

HFCs, PFCs, SF6, NF3

Forest absorption


RegulatoryTrends

NEDO Environment Department Director General Akira Yasui

Demonstration of energy-saving refrigerator/freezer systems at an actual shopusing CO2 as a refrigerant.NEDO has introduced a CO2 refrigerant refrigerator/freezer display case at an actual shop and supported technology demonstration to resolve technical issues for the purpose of increased reliability and functionality, and expanded use while adjusting operational conditions to the local environment. (Performers: Panasonic Corporation Appliance Company)

08 09focus NEDO 2016 No.59

Evolving from Fluorinated Gases to Non-fluorocarbons

Fluorocarbons Reduction Technologies Fluorocarbons that are widely used in air conditioning, refrigerators and a variety of solvents are considered contributing factors in the destruction of the ozone layer and global warming. With the year 2020 when the total abolition of CFCs that deplete the ozone layer is called for approaching, NEDO is developing new refrigerants and machinery with the goal to move away from fluorinated gases that have a large impact on the greenhouse effect and to move towards non-fluorocarbons.

CFCs and HCFCs are issues as contributing factors in destroying the ozone layer that surrounds the earth and have become the target of regulations globally. The first was the Montreal Protocol adopted in 1987. It was decided that developed countries would gradually limit production, import and export of CFCs and HCFCs with a complete ban on CFCs in 1996 and a virtual total ban on HCFCs by 2020.

However, it was discovered that fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, and SF6) developed to replace CFCs and HCFCs are gases with extremely high greenhouse effects that can lead to global warming, even though they do not destroy the ozone layer. For this reason, they were designated as gases subject to reduced emissions in the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997 as an international framework to control emissions of greenhouse gases and developed countries were obligated to set and achieve numerical targets.

Japan has committed to a 6% reduction of greenhouse gases (compared with 1990) in the first commitment period (2008-2012),

and has been working to meet the concrete reduction targets in the area of HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 set in the “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan.”

As part of this global trend, NEDO has worked on technology development for fluorocarbon countermeasures and implemented numerous projects from the late 1990s.

Initially, NEDO focused on developing technology for the recovery and destruction of fluorocarbons from the perspective

of preventing the release of fluorocarbons into the atmosphere. With the “Development of HFC-23 Destruction Technologies” (FY1998~2001), NEDO developed technology referred to as the “submerged combustion method” to completely breakdown HFC-23 that occurs as a byproduct in manufacturing HCFC-22. The submerged combustion method treatment facilities were made operational, and they can respond to not only CFCs and HCFCs but also fluorocarbons in general. Over 20 facilities have been constructed in Japan and abroad and used as burners dedicated to fluorocarbons.

The “Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law” that requires the recovery and destruction of fluorocarbons as enacted in 2002 and was completely revised in April 2015. Focusing on the entire life cycle of fluorocarbons, from their manufacture to their disposal, the “Fluorocarbons Emission Control Law” was implemented with the goal of enacting comprehensive countermeasures.

With these regulations as a backdrop, NEDO conducted research and development of machines that use CO2 refrigerants

that replace traditional fluorocarbon refrigerants with freezer display cases used in such locations as supermarkets as part of the “Development of Non-fluorinated Energy-saving Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Systems” (FY2005-2010). As a result of this project, NEDO succeeded to develop and commercialize the display case that achieved energy savings of 23% in electricity consumption and CO2 reduction by nearly 60% as a whole system, and the display case units have already been introduced to a large number of stores. As its GWP of CO2 is 1.0, we can say that this is an extremely low GWP refrigerant. Nonetheless, since CO2 is a poor refrigerant unless it is subject to high pressure, the increased complexity of the machinery is unavoidable and it is likely that lowering the cost will be an issue in the future.

Since NEDO has found the technical method to “cool” with a refrigerator/freezer system in the above mentioned project, with the ongoing “Technical Development of High-efficiency Non-fluorinated Air-conditioning Systems” (FY2011-2015), NEDO is focusing on development in the area of commercial-use air conditioning systems for cooling and heating. The GWP of the new refrigerant currently under development (main substance: HFO-1123) would be one-sixth of the conventional refrigerant used in commercial air conditioning (HFC-410A) and one-half compared to the fluorinated gas refrigerant with the lowest GWP used in residential room air conditioning (HFC-32).

In this way, the area that NEDO is emphasizing and should be working on in the future is field of air conditioning mechanisms. Given that low GWP refrigerants tend to have a higher degree of combustive nature, in order to not only secure the machine’s energy efficiency in response to a wide range of temperatures with the cooling and heating unit but also make it both safe and low GWP compatible, we must overcome some very difficult technical challenges. In addition, in the future NEDO plans to move forward with technology development to achieve even higher efficiency and lower GWP, continuing from large-scale units for commercial use and targeting medium and small air conditioning units that include residential use. Although there are still many issues such as safety and cost reduction in order to realize this technology going forward, NEDO will make contributions to global warming countermeasures by taking on these ever more difficult new technology challenges.

Focusing on the Life Cycle of Fluorocarbons, TechnologyDevelopment Corresponds to Regulatory Trends

1Topic

Development of high-efficiency equipmentusing “low GWP refrigerants” such asCO2 among other substances.

Here’s thePoint!

NoteworthyEnvironmental Technology

NEDO Environment DepartmentGlobal Warming countermeasures Group

Director Masamichi Abe

CFC : Chlorofluorocarbons. They are ozone-depleting substances that are regulated substances in the Montreal Protocol.

HCFC : Hydro chlorofluorocarbons. They are ozone-depleting substances that are regulated substances in the Montreal Protocol.

HFC : Hydro fluorocarbons. Although they do not contain chlorine and do not damage the ozone layer, since they cause powerful greenhouse effects, they have been targeted for reduced emissions in the Kyoto Protocol.


Non-fluorocarbon refrigeration unit mounted on the roof of the store

Store freezer display case

Ozone layer depletionmechanism discovered

CFCs and HCFCs

Ozone Layer Protection Global Warming Mitigation

1983Vienna Conventionadopted

1985Montreal Protocoladopted

1987United Nations FrameworkConvention on ClimateChange adopted

1992Kyoto Protocoladopted New countermeasures

are needed

Increased emission amountsprojected toward 20201997

Timeline of Fluorocarbons Regulations and Countermeasures Domestic Regulatory Trends

CFCs Both developed and developingcountries near complete ban

Complete ban planned for developed countriesby 2020, developing countries by 2030 planned HFCs Required to reduce emission amountsHCFCs

CFC-12

ODP=1.0GWP=10900

ODP=0.055GWP=1810

HCFC-22

Ozone layerdepletion effect

Low GWPrefrigerantsAlternatives Alternatives

*ODP: Ozone layer destruction factors. CFC-11 as 1.0 expresses increasing ozone layer depletion impact. GWP: Global warming factor. CO2 as 1.0 expresses global warming impact.

High Pressure GasSafety Law

Aiming for HFCs phase down

Contributing to developinglegislation for slightly flammablerefrigerants commercialization

Fluorocarbons Recovery andDestruction Law revised

gFluorocarbons EmissionControl Law

(stipulating the promotion oflow GWP products)

Promoting technologydevelopment of low GWPrefrigerant applications

International Regulatory Trends

European F-gas Regulationenhancement proposed

Technology development with a view toward exportand international technology transferYes

Greenhouseeffect

GreenhouseeffectL Ozone layer

depletion effectNoOzone layerdepletion effectNo

GreenhouseeffectS

HFCs

HFC-134a

ODP=0.0GWP=1430

ODP=0.0GWP=2090

HFC-410A

Non-Fluorocarbons(including natural refrigerants)

North American Proposalto Amend the

Montreal Protocol

arge Largemall

With CO2 Refrigerant Machines Commercialized, Reduction of Power Consumption by 23% and CO2 Emissions by 60% Achieved

Attempting the Even More Difficult Technical Hurdlesof Developing Heating and Cooling Equipment

Demonstration of energy-saving refrigerator/freezer systems at an actual shopusing CO2 as a refrigerant.NEDO has introduced a CO2 refrigerant refrigerator/freezer display case at an actual shop and supported technology demonstration to resolve technical issues for the purpose of increased reliability and functionality, and expanded use while adjusting operational conditions to the local environment. (Performers: Panasonic Corporation Appliance Company)


Evolving from Fluorinated Gases to Non-fluorocarbons

Fluorocarbons Reduction Technologies Fluorocarbons that are widely used in air conditioning, refrigerators and a variety of solvents are considered contributing factors in the destruction of the ozone layer and global warming. With the year 2020 when the total abolition of CFCs that deplete the ozone layer is called for approaching, NEDO is developing new refrigerants and machinery with the goal to move away from fluorinated gases that have a large impact on the greenhouse effect and to move towards non-fluorocarbons.

CFCs and HCFCs are issues as contributing factors in destroying the ozone layer that surrounds the earth and have become the target of regulations globally. The first was the Montreal Protocol adopted in 1987. It was decided that developed countries would gradually limit production, import and export of CFCs and HCFCs with a complete ban on CFCs in 1996 and a virtual total ban on HCFCs by 2020.

However, it was discovered that fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, and SF6) developed to replace CFCs and HCFCs are gases with extremely high greenhouse effects that can lead to global warming, even though they do not destroy the ozone layer. For this reason, they were designated as gases subject to reduced emissions in the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997 as an international framework to control emissions of greenhouse gases and developed countries were obligated to set and achieve numerical targets.

Japan has committed to a 6% reduction of greenhouse gases (compared with 1990) in the first commitment period (2008-2012),

and has been working to meet the concrete reduction targets in the area of HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 set in the “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan.”

As part of this global trend, NEDO has worked on technology development for fluorocarbon countermeasures and implemented numerous projects from the late 1990s.

Initially, NEDO focused on developing technology for the recovery and destruction of fluorocarbons from the perspective

of preventing the release of fluorocarbons into the atmosphere. With the “Development of HFC-23 Destruction Technologies” (FY1998~2001), NEDO developed technology referred to as the “submerged combustion method” to completely breakdown HFC-23 that occurs as a byproduct in manufacturing HCFC-22. The submerged combustion method treatment facilities were made operational, and they can respond to not only CFCs and HCFCs but also fluorocarbons in general. Over 20 facilities have been constructed in Japan and abroad and used as burners dedicated to fluorocarbons.

The “Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law” that requires the recovery and destruction of fluorocarbons as enacted in 2002 and was completely revised in April 2015. Focusing on the entire life cycle of fluorocarbons, from their manufacture to their disposal, the “Fluorocarbons Emission Control Law” was implemented with the goal of enacting comprehensive countermeasures.

With these regulations as a backdrop, NEDO conducted research and development of machines that use CO2 refrigerants

that replace traditional fluorocarbon refrigerants with freezer display cases used in such locations as supermarkets as part of the “Development of Non-fluorinated Energy-saving Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Systems” (FY2005-2010). As a result of this project, NEDO succeeded to develop and commercialize the display case that achieved energy savings of 23% in electricity consumption and CO2 reduction by nearly 60% as a whole system, and the display case units have already been introduced to a large number of stores. As its GWP of CO2 is 1.0, we can say that this is an extremely low GWP refrigerant. Nonetheless, since CO2 is a poor refrigerant unless it is subject to high pressure, the increased complexity of the machinery is unavoidable and it is likely that lowering the cost will be an issue in the future.

Since NEDO has found the technical method to “cool” with a refrigerator/freezer system in the above mentioned project, with the ongoing “Technical Development of High-efficiency Non-fluorinated Air-conditioning Systems” (FY2011-2015), NEDO is focusing on development in the area of commercial-use air conditioning systems for cooling and heating. The GWP of the new refrigerant currently under development (main substance: HFO-1123) would be one-sixth of the conventional refrigerant used in commercial air conditioning (HFC-410A) and one-half compared to the fluorinated gas refrigerant with the lowest GWP used in residential room air conditioning (HFC-32).

In this way, the area that NEDO is emphasizing and should be working on in the future is field of air conditioning mechanisms. Given that low GWP refrigerants tend to have a higher degree of combustive nature, in order to not only secure the machine’s energy efficiency in response to a wide range of temperatures with the cooling and heating unit but also make it both safe and low GWP compatible, we must overcome some very difficult technical challenges. In addition, in the future NEDO plans to move forward with technology development to achieve even higher efficiency and lower GWP, continuing from large-scale units for commercial use and targeting medium and small air conditioning units that include residential use. Although there are still many issues such as safety and cost reduction in order to realize this technology going forward, NEDO will make contributions to global warming countermeasures by taking on these ever more difficult new technology challenges.

Focusing on the Life Cycle of Fluorocarbons, TechnologyDevelopment Corresponds to Regulatory Trends

1Topic

Development of high-efficiency equipmentusing “low GWP refrigerants” such asCO2 among other substances.

Here’s thePoint!


NEDO Environment DepartmentGlobal Warming countermeasures Group

Director Masamichi Abe

CFC : Chlorofluorocarbons. They are ozone-depleting substances that are regulated substances in the Montreal Protocol.

HCFC : Hydro chlorofluorocarbons. They are ozone-depleting substances that are regulated substances in the Montreal Protocol.

HFC : Hydro fluorocarbons. Although they do not contain chlorine and do not damage the ozone layer, since they cause powerful greenhouse effects, they have been targeted for reduced emissions in the Kyoto Protocol.


Non-fluorocarbon refrigeration unit mounted on the roof of the store

Store freezer display case

Ozone layer depletionmechanism discovered

CFCs and HCFCs

Ozone Layer Protection Global Warming Mitigation

1983Vienna Conventionadopted

1985Montreal Protocoladopted

1987United Nations FrameworkConvention on ClimateChange adopted

1992Kyoto Protocoladopted New countermeasures

are needed

Increased emission amountsprojected toward 20201997

Timeline of Fluorocarbons Regulations and Countermeasures Domestic Regulatory Trends

CFCs Both developed and developingcountries near complete ban

Complete ban planned for developed countriesby 2020, developing countries by 2030 planned HFCs Required to reduce emission amountsHCFCs

CFC-12

ODP=1.0GWP=10900

ODP=0.055GWP=1810

HCFC-22

Ozone layerdepletion effect

Low GWPrefrigerantsAlternatives Alternatives

*ODP: Ozone layer destruction factors. CFC-11 as 1.0 expresses increasing ozone layer depletion impact. GWP: Global warming factor. CO2 as 1.0 expresses global warming impact.

High Pressure GasSafety Law

Aiming for HFCs phase down

Contributing to developinglegislation for slightly flammablerefrigerants commercialization

Fluorocarbons Recovery andDestruction Law revised

gFluorocarbons EmissionControl Law

(stipulating the promotion oflow GWP products)

Promoting technologydevelopment of low GWPrefrigerant applications

International Regulatory Trends

European F-gas Regulationenhancement proposed

Technology development with a view toward exportand international technology transferYes

Greenhouseeffect

GreenhouseeffectL Ozone layer

depletion effectNoOzone layerdepletion effectNo

GreenhouseeffectS

HFCs

HFC-134a

ODP=0.0GWP=1430

ODP=0.0GWP=2090

HFC-410A

Non-Fluorocarbons(including natural refrigerants)

North American Proposalto Amend the

Montreal Protocol

arge Largemall

With CO2 Refrigerant Machines Commercialized, Reduction of Power Consumption by 23% and CO2 Emissions by 60% Achieved

Attempting the Even More Difficult Technical Hurdlesof Developing Heating and Cooling Equipment


The Ultimate Ecological Cycle

Artificial PhotosynthesisThe chemical industry which is one of Japan’s core industries depends on oil for 95% of its raw materials and is known to discharge a large quantity of CO2. In order to resolve this problem and contribute to a low carbon society of the future, NEDO has been working on the “Artificial Photosynthesis Project” to achieve the “ultimate ecological cycle.”

The chemical industry is a core industry that broadly supplies many industries with chemical products for a wide range of products necessary for a modern comfortable life. Nonetheless, in the case of Japan, 95% of the raw materials for chemical products rely on naphtha refined from oil. The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is also large, following the steel industry, and accounts for 23% of the manufacturing industry as a whole.

In order to have a secure supply of chemical products going forward, it is critical to vary resources and lower the level of dependence on the limited resource of fossil fuel, while reducing the amount of CO2 emission as much as possible and contributing to achieving a low carbon society.

To resolve these issues, NEDO is working on the “Artificial Photosynthesis Project”, Development of Chemical Processes for

Producing Fundamental Chemicals Utilizing Carbon Dioxide. The goal of this project is to utilize the virtually unlimited solar energy, water and carbon dioxide which is the main source of global warming and develop key technologies for manufacturing core chemical products (low olefins; ethylene, propylene, etc.) that form many other useful chemical products.

In the traditional basic chemical product manufacturing process, carbon dioxide is being discharged when petroleum oil is used as the raw material. The new manufacturing process goal of this project is to generate hydrogen from water using the energy of the sun and produce olefin with this hydrogen combined with carbon dioxide discharged from power plants and factories, etc. If this technology can be put into practice, it will open the way to a revolutionary technological development that shifts the heretofore process of carbon dioxide emissions toward a process of carbon dioxide consumption.

NEDO is working on three research topics in this project: (1) development of a photocatalyst and its module, (2) development of a separation membrane and its module, and (3) development of a synthetic catalyst. In the new manufacturing process this project aims to achieve, first will be the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen by means of photocatalysts (Topic1). Then, separation of hydrogen from the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen by means of a separation membrane (Topic 2) will occur. Finally, it will produce olefin from hydrogen and carbon dioxide by means of synthetic catalysts (Topic 3). Although all of the three topics are important, development of photocatalysts (Topic1) faces the highest hurdles and American and European researchers as well as researchers from around the world are competing to work on this problem.

Photocatalyst converts the solar energy to chemical energy; one of the challenges is lengthening the absorption wavelength of the photocatalyst, in order to utilize light from across the spectrum from visible light to infrared. Furthermore, in order to enable efficient energy conversion, it is necessary to reduce defects in the photocatalyst. As a result, in March 2015 NEDO achieved the solar energy conversion efficiency at 2%, which is the world’s highest level in the field of hydrogen production from water. Although this is a relatively high conversion efficiency rate considering the conversion efficiency rate of photosynthesis in the natural world is 0.2%, NEDO has set an ultimate goal of 10% in this project by 2021 as the necessary conversion efficiency rate for commercialization, to reflect the economics of the existing petroleum-based chemical products.

In development of the separation membrane (Topic 2), material research which is aimed to selectively isolate hydrogen by taking advantage of the disparity in molecular size between hydrogen and oxygen has been conducted. We have conducted material research using the model gases of oxygen and nitrogen in the past.

We will work on module research to enable the safe separation of hydrogen and explore separation membrane materials while considering the conditions of actual use with the compound gas of hydrogen and oxygen as well as the water vapor.

In developing the synthetic catalyst (Topic 3), investigating the optimum composition and process condition has been conducted, a yield of 70% olefin with a carbon count of 2-4 was achieved in FY2014. We are aiming the ultimate goal of achiving an olefin yield of 80% by improving the synthetic catalyst and the selectivity of olefin to a higher degree.

After establishing three fundamental technologies in this project, NEDO plans to bring about a working device by around 2030 upon completing a number of levels of expanded demonstrations. Given that solar energy is dependent on the weather and limited to daytime, it is said that a realistic approach for commercialization would be to implement with the process using hydrogen derived from natural gas (methane) as a raw material. Even farther in the future these technologies can be widely introduced in the world’s Sun Belt regions that are blessed with solar energy such as the Middle East. NEDO will lead the world in practical application of the photocatalyst technology that Japan has been developing ahead of the rest of the world to make contributions to solving energy challenges and preventing global warming.

Developing Revolutionary Technology to Shift Basic Chemical Product Manufacturing Process 180 Degrees

Achieving the World’s Highest Level EnergyConversion Efficiency of 2% in Spring 2015

Aiming to Lead the World in Practical Application of Technology Developed in Japan

2Topic

Use the solar energy to createplastics and synthetic fibers fromwater and CO2

Photograph of a photocatalyst sheet type cell that achieved 1% conversion efficiency of the solar energy (step1 in the diagram above). It generates hydrogen and oxygen from water through sunlight.

NEDO Environment Department, Environmental Chemistryc Group

Director Shinji Yamano

Overall emission amount of industry sectors: 342 million t - CO2

Source: Created based on the data from National Institute for Environmental Studies, “Japanese Greenhouse Gas Emission Amount” (FY2013; actual values)

Source: Created based on the data from Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, “Annual Report on Energy” (FY2013) and “Energy Supply and Demand Data” (actual values)

Overall emission amount of manufacturing industries: 5929x1015 J

Carbon Dioxide Discharge Amountby Industry Type (FY2013)

Energy Consumption Changes byManufacturing Industry Type (FY2013)

• Reducing the level of dependence on fossil fuel resources

• Diversifying raw materials Developing new chemical product manufacturing technology to contribute to realizing a low carbon society

• Dependence on oil (naphtha) for 95% of raw materials

• Large amount of carbon dioxide discharge

Issu

es

Current Conditions and Characteristics of the Domestic Chemical Industry

Artificial Photosynthesis Conceptual Diagram

1. PhotocatalystH2

O2

Photocatalyst for generating oxygen

Photocatalyst for generating hydrogen

H2O2

2. Separation membrane

Olefin

Catalystlayer

3. Synthetic catalystMethanol synthesis Olefin synthesis

CO‧H2

Methanol CatalystlayerSeparation

membrane

H2O

CO2

C2C3C4

Olefin

H2 O2

Power plant, factory, etc.

Raw materials forplastics, etc.

Photosynthesis Separationmembrane

Synthetic catalyst

Modification

H2

CO

H2

Others

Pulp, paper andpaper products

23%

Chemical industry (including oil and

coal products)

49%

Steel/non-steelmetallurgyproducts13%

6%9%

Ceramic and cementindustry products

OthersPulp, paper andpaper products

Textiles

40%


coal products)

6%6%

8%

8%Ceramic and cementindustry products

32%

Steel/non-steelmetallurgy products

What is a Photocatalyst?A photocatalyst is a substance that functions as a catalyst that causes a chemical reaction in another substance when sunlight is absorbed. In particular, the “photocatalyst technology of titanium oxide” that originated in Japan works to eliminate hazardous substances, cleans air, removes odors and resists bacteria among other functions. Between FY2007 and FY2012 NEDO conducted the “Project to

K E Y W O R DCreate Photocatalyst Industry for Recycling-oriented Society,” expanding the practical use of paints, tiles and other materials. Just as photosynthesis is conducted by the photocatalyst known as “chlorophyll” in the natural world, in this project NEDO explored photocatalysts that would enable artificial photosynthesis by obtaining hydrogen and oxygen from water.


Here’s thePoint!



The Ultimate Ecological Cycle

Artificial PhotosynthesisThe chemical industry which is one of Japan’s core industries depends on oil for 95% of its raw materials and is known to discharge a large quantity of CO2. In order to resolve this problem and contribute to a low carbon society of the future, NEDO has been working on the “Artificial Photosynthesis Project” to achieve the “ultimate ecological cycle.”

The chemical industry is a core industry that broadly supplies many industries with chemical products for a wide range of products necessary for a modern comfortable life. Nonetheless, in the case of Japan, 95% of the raw materials for chemical products rely on naphtha refined from oil. The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is also large, following the steel industry, and accounts for 23% of the manufacturing industry as a whole.

In order to have a secure supply of chemical products going forward, it is critical to vary resources and lower the level of dependence on the limited resource of fossil fuel, while reducing the amount of CO2 emission as much as possible and contributing to achieving a low carbon society.

To resolve these issues, NEDO is working on the “Artificial Photosynthesis Project”, Development of Chemical Processes for

Producing Fundamental Chemicals Utilizing Carbon Dioxide. The goal of this project is to utilize the virtually unlimited solar energy, water and carbon dioxide which is the main source of global warming and develop key technologies for manufacturing core chemical products (low olefins; ethylene, propylene, etc.) that form many other useful chemical products.

In the traditional basic chemical product manufacturing process, carbon dioxide is being discharged when petroleum oil is used as the raw material. The new manufacturing process goal of this project is to generate hydrogen from water using the energy of the sun and produce olefin with this hydrogen combined with carbon dioxide discharged from power plants and factories, etc. If this technology can be put into practice, it will open the way to a revolutionary technological development that shifts the heretofore process of carbon dioxide emissions toward a process of carbon dioxide consumption.

NEDO is working on three research topics in this project: (1) development of a photocatalyst and its module, (2) development of a separation membrane and its module, and (3) development of a synthetic catalyst. In the new manufacturing process this project aims to achieve, first will be the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen by means of photocatalysts (Topic1). Then, separation of hydrogen from the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen by means of a separation membrane (Topic 2) will occur. Finally, it will produce olefin from hydrogen and carbon dioxide by means of synthetic catalysts (Topic 3). Although all of the three topics are important, development of photocatalysts (Topic1) faces the highest hurdles and American and European researchers as well as researchers from around the world are competing to work on this problem.

Photocatalyst converts the solar energy to chemical energy; one of the challenges is lengthening the absorption wavelength of the photocatalyst, in order to utilize light from across the spectrum from visible light to infrared. Furthermore, in order to enable efficient energy conversion, it is necessary to reduce defects in the photocatalyst. As a result, in March 2015 NEDO achieved the solar energy conversion efficiency at 2%, which is the world’s highest level in the field of hydrogen production from water. Although this is a relatively high conversion efficiency rate considering the conversion efficiency rate of photosynthesis in the natural world is 0.2%, NEDO has set an ultimate goal of 10% in this project by 2021 as the necessary conversion efficiency rate for commercialization, to reflect the economics of the existing petroleum-based chemical products.

In development of the separation membrane (Topic 2), material research which is aimed to selectively isolate hydrogen by taking advantage of the disparity in molecular size between hydrogen and oxygen has been conducted. We have conducted material research using the model gases of oxygen and nitrogen in the past.

We will work on module research to enable the safe separation of hydrogen and explore separation membrane materials while considering the conditions of actual use with the compound gas of hydrogen and oxygen as well as the water vapor.

In developing the synthetic catalyst (Topic 3), investigating the optimum composition and process condition has been conducted, a yield of 70% olefin with a carbon count of 2-4 was achieved in FY2014. We are aiming the ultimate goal of achiving an olefin yield of 80% by improving the synthetic catalyst and the selectivity of olefin to a higher degree.

After establishing three fundamental technologies in this project, NEDO plans to bring about a working device by around 2030 upon completing a number of levels of expanded demonstrations. Given that solar energy is dependent on the weather and limited to daytime, it is said that a realistic approach for commercialization would be to implement with the process using hydrogen derived from natural gas (methane) as a raw material. Even farther in the future these technologies can be widely introduced in the world’s Sun Belt regions that are blessed with solar energy such as the Middle East. NEDO will lead the world in practical application of the photocatalyst technology that Japan has been developing ahead of the rest of the world to make contributions to solving energy challenges and preventing global warming.

Developing Revolutionary Technology to Shift Basic Chemical Product Manufacturing Process 180 Degrees

Achieving the World’s Highest Level EnergyConversion Efficiency of 2% in Spring 2015

Aiming to Lead the World in Practical Application of Technology Developed in Japan

2Topic

Use the solar energy to createplastics and synthetic fibers fromwater and CO2

Photograph of a photocatalyst sheet type cell that achieved 1% conversion efficiency of the solar energy (step1 in the diagram above). It generates hydrogen and oxygen from water through sunlight.

NEDO Environment Department, Environmental Chemistryc Group

Director Shinji Yamano

Overall emission amount of industry sectors: 342 million t - CO2

Source: Created based on the data from National Institute for Environmental Studies, “Japanese Greenhouse Gas Emission Amount” (FY2013; actual values)

Source: Created based on the data from Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, “Annual Report on Energy” (FY2013) and “Energy Supply and Demand Data” (actual values)

Overall emission amount of manufacturing industries: 5929x1015 J

Carbon Dioxide Discharge Amountby Industry Type (FY2013)

Energy Consumption Changes byManufacturing Industry Type (FY2013)

• Reducing the level of dependence on fossil fuel resources

• Diversifying raw materials Developing new chemical product manufacturing technology to contribute to realizing a low carbon society

• Dependence on oil (naphtha) for 95% of raw materials

• Large amount of carbon dioxide discharge

Issu

es

Current Conditions and Characteristics of the Domestic Chemical Industry

Artificial Photosynthesis Conceptual Diagram

1. PhotocatalystH2

O2

Photocatalyst for generating oxygen

Photocatalyst for generating hydrogen

H2O2

2. Separation membrane

Olefin

Catalystlayer

3. Synthetic catalystMethanol synthesis Olefin synthesis

CO‧H2

Methanol CatalystlayerSeparation

membrane

H2O

CO2

C2C3C4

Olefin

H2 O2

Power plant, factory, etc.

Raw materials forplastics, etc.

Photosynthesis Separationmembrane

Synthetic catalyst

Modification

H2

CO

H2

Others

Pulp, paper andpaper products

23%


coal products)

49%

Steel/non-steelmetallurgyproducts13%

6%9%

Ceramic and cementindustry products

OthersPulp, paper andpaper products

Textiles

40%


coal products)

6%6%

8%

8%Ceramic and cementindustry products

32%

Steel/non-steelmetallurgy products

What is a Photocatalyst?A photocatalyst is a substance that functions as a catalyst that causes a chemical reaction in another substance when sunlight is absorbed. In particular, the “photocatalyst technology of titanium oxide” that originated in Japan works to eliminate hazardous substances, cleans air, removes odors and resists bacteria among other functions. Between FY2007 and FY2012 NEDO conducted the “Project to

K E Y W O R DCreate Photocatalyst Industry for Recycling-oriented Society,” expanding the practical use of paints, tiles and other materials. Just as photosynthesis is conducted by the photocatalyst known as “chlorophyll” in the natural world, in this project NEDO explored photocatalysts that would enable artificial photosynthesis by obtaining hydrogen and oxygen from water.


Here’s thePoint!



In 1992 under the auspices of the United Nations, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted with the ultimate goal of stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This became the basis for the entire world to make efforts addressing global warming and the Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) has been held since 1995.

On the evening of December 12, 2015, during the plenary meeting of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) held in Paris, the “Paris Agreement” and “COP21 Decisions” were adopted with the goals of “countering climate change after 2020” and “raising ambitions (regarding GHG emission reduction) by

2020.” The Paris Agreement was the first framework in 18 years since the Kyoto Protocol was adopted at COP3 in 1997. This became a groundbreaking international agreement as it included efforts to deal with climate change issues on a global scale with not only developed nations participating, but developing ones as well (see p.13: Paris Agreement main points.)

In the Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, international market mechanisms, including the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism) that has been advocated by the Japanese government, was effectively accepted, and in the Article 10, it is mentioned that “efforts in innovations should be supported by means of technical and funding mechanisms.” Even prior to COP21, NEDO has been promoting “JCM Demonstration Projects” utilizing the JCM to expand demonstrations and verifications of advanced low carbon technology with the aim of spreading the technology around

the world. This has been used as one of the important tools in expanding groundbreaking low carbon technology while lowering the burden on developing countries, which was mentioned in Prime Minister Abe’s speech on the day of the COP21 opening ceremony.

NEDO participates in the COP every year, and this time at the COP21, there were three side events held on December 9th. At the official COP21 side event, there was an introductory presentation of the ICEF* and a discussion with panelists regarding the importance of innovation to resolve climate change issues.

In addition, at events at the Japan Pavilion, jointly organized with the Climate-KIC (the EU’s largest initiative spanning industry, academia and government that targets innovation for climate change action) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), some good practices of each organization’s efforts in addressing importance of climate change action were discussed. These events were able to present ideas of common interest in order to promote innovation even more in a variety of ways, such as (1) changing mindsets towards the development and expansion of more ambitious technology to move from low carbon to zero carbon technology, as well as the realization of policy and system for it, including education for the younger generation, (2) promoting capacity building and efforts from business, and (3) dealing with environmental problems without conflicting with economic growth, rather, aiming for balancing both. NEDO presented concrete examples from the JCM demonstration project as one of the powerful means of promoting innovation and expanding low carbon technology as a result.

*Innovation for Cool Earth Forum: An international conference started in 2014 which was spearheaded by Prime Minister Abe. The objective is to promote discussions and collaborations among the world’s academic communities, industries, and government officials to come up with solutions to climate change issues through innovation in the fields of energy and the environment.

COP21 ReportCOP21 was held in Paris, France. NEDO also participated to advocate for the importance of innovation and the possibility of disseminating low carbon technology to developing countries, as the world focused on a new framework for climate change. We spoke with Director Masanori Kobayashi and staff member, Ayaka Kubota of the Global Environment Technology Promotion Division about the events.

Deploying Low Carbon Technology in the World through Promotionof the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism)

The World’s First Groundbreaking Framework with All Developed and Developing Nations Participating

Emphasizing the Importance of Innovation and theExpansion and Promotion of Low Carbon TechnologyUtilizing the JCM at Side Events

Key Points in the Paris Agreement Adopted at COP21

1 2

3

4

765

■This Agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (Paris Agreement, Article 2, Section 1).

■Each Party shall prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions that it intends to achieve. Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions. (Paris Agreement, Article 4, Section 2).

■Each Party shall communicate a nationally determined contribution every five years in accordance with decision 1/CP.21 and any relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement and be informed by the outcomes of the global stocktake referred to in Article 14 (Paris Agreement, Article 4, Section 9).

■Parties recognize that some Parties choose to pursue voluntary cooperation in the implementation of their nationally determined contributions to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions and to promote sustainable development and environmental integrity (Paris Agreement, Article 6, Section 1).

■The use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes to achieve nationally determined contributions under this Agreement shall be voluntary and authorized by participating Parties (Paris Agreement, Article 6, Section 3).

■A mechanism to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions is hereby established under the authority and guidance of the Conference of the Parties (Paris Agreement, Article 6, Section 4).

Reduction Targets

Market Mechanisms

■It was determined that among the developed nations, based on the ongoing goals for existing funding procurement targets, new goals must be set at a minimum of 100 billion dollars per year by 2025 (COP21 decision, paragraph 54).

Funding Support

■Parties shall strengthen cooperative action on technology development and transfer (Paris Agreement, Article 10, Section 2).

■Accelerating, encouraging and enabling innovation is critical for an effective, long-term global response to climate change and promoting economic growth and sustainable development. (Paris Agreement, Article 10, Section 5).

Technology Transfer and Innovation

■This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession (Paris Agreement, Article 21).

Enactment

NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa giving closing remarks at the COP21 official side event

NEDO Special Adviser Hiroshi Kuniyoshi talking about the importance of innovation at a panel

Side Events Hosted by NEDO at the COP21 ConferenceCOP21 Official Side EventLow carbon/emission Development and Growth: Towards New Regime from ParisJointly organized with the Japanese Business Federation, the GlobalIndustrial and Social Progress Research Institute (GISPRI) and the Instituteof Energy Economics, Japan

Japan Pavilion Side EventCreation of Innovation to Strengthen Climate ActionJointly organized with Climate-KIC (the EU’s largest initiative spanningindustry, academia and government that targets innovation for climate change action)How to Innovate Environment Friendly Socio-Systems for Multi-Benefit Climate ActionsJointly organized with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa and staff members from the Representative Office in Europe, International Affairs Department, and Global Environment Technology Promotion Division attended COP21

nd2COP 21 and JCM Featured Articles

1 Entrance to the COP21 Conference Centre. 2 Joy at the adoption of the Paris Agreement: COP21 Special Representative Laurence Tubiana of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left), UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres (middle) and COP21 President Laurent Fabius (Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France) (right). 3 Admission ticket to the COP21 plenary (general session) leading to the historic moment of the adoption of the Paris Agreement. 4 Eifel Tower constructed at the conference site decorated with messages for the future from each organization. 5 Staff member Ayaka Kubota trying to ride a next generation one wheel vehicle in the COP21 Exhibition Hall. 6 A bilateral meeting held with UNIDO. 7 NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa chatting with an Indonesian representative at the JCM High-level Meeting.


In 1992 under the auspices of the United Nations, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted with the ultimate goal of stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This became the basis for the entire world to make efforts addressing global warming and the Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) has been held since 1995.

On the evening of December 12, 2015, during the plenary meeting of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) held in Paris, the “Paris Agreement” and “COP21 Decisions” were adopted with the goals of “countering climate change after 2020” and “raising ambitions (regarding GHG emission reduction) by

2020.” The Paris Agreement was the first framework in 18 years since the Kyoto Protocol was adopted at COP3 in 1997. This became a groundbreaking international agreement as it included efforts to deal with climate change issues on a global scale with not only developed nations participating, but developing ones as well (see p.13: Paris Agreement main points.)

In the Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, international market mechanisms, including the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism) that has been advocated by the Japanese government, was effectively accepted, and in the Article 10, it is mentioned that “efforts in innovations should be supported by means of technical and funding mechanisms.” Even prior to COP21, NEDO has been promoting “JCM Demonstration Projects” utilizing the JCM to expand demonstrations and verifications of advanced low carbon technology with the aim of spreading the technology around

the world. This has been used as one of the important tools in expanding groundbreaking low carbon technology while lowering the burden on developing countries, which was mentioned in Prime Minister Abe’s speech on the day of the COP21 opening ceremony.

NEDO participates in the COP every year, and this time at the COP21, there were three side events held on December 9th. At the official COP21 side event, there was an introductory presentation of the ICEF* and a discussion with panelists regarding the importance of innovation to resolve climate change issues.

In addition, at events at the Japan Pavilion, jointly organized with the Climate-KIC (the EU’s largest initiative spanning industry, academia and government that targets innovation for climate change action) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), some good practices of each organization’s efforts in addressing importance of climate change action were discussed. These events were able to present ideas of common interest in order to promote innovation even more in a variety of ways, such as (1) changing mindsets towards the development and expansion of more ambitious technology to move from low carbon to zero carbon technology, as well as the realization of policy and system for it, including education for the younger generation, (2) promoting capacity building and efforts from business, and (3) dealing with environmental problems without conflicting with economic growth, rather, aiming for balancing both. NEDO presented concrete examples from the JCM demonstration project as one of the powerful means of promoting innovation and expanding low carbon technology as a result.

*Innovation for Cool Earth Forum: An international conference started in 2014 which was spearheaded by Prime Minister Abe. The objective is to promote discussions and collaborations among the world’s academic communities, industries, and government officials to come up with solutions to climate change issues through innovation in the fields of energy and the environment.

COP21 ReportCOP21 was held in Paris, France. NEDO also participated to advocate for the importance of innovation and the possibility of disseminating low carbon technology to developing countries, as the world focused on a new framework for climate change. We spoke with Director Masanori Kobayashi and staff member, Ayaka Kubota of the Global Environment Technology Promotion Division about the events.

Deploying Low Carbon Technology in the World through Promotionof the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism)

The World’s First Groundbreaking Framework with All Developed and Developing Nations Participating

Emphasizing the Importance of Innovation and theExpansion and Promotion of Low Carbon TechnologyUtilizing the JCM at Side Events

Key Points in the Paris Agreement Adopted at COP21

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■This Agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (Paris Agreement, Article 2, Section 1).

■Each Party shall prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions that it intends to achieve. Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions. (Paris Agreement, Article 4, Section 2).

■Each Party shall communicate a nationally determined contribution every five years in accordance with decision 1/CP.21 and any relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement and be informed by the outcomes of the global stocktake referred to in Article 14 (Paris Agreement, Article 4, Section 9).

■Parties recognize that some Parties choose to pursue voluntary cooperation in the implementation of their nationally determined contributions to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions and to promote sustainable development and environmental integrity (Paris Agreement, Article 6, Section 1).

■The use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes to achieve nationally determined contributions under this Agreement shall be voluntary and authorized by participating Parties (Paris Agreement, Article 6, Section 3).

■A mechanism to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions is hereby established under the authority and guidance of the Conference of the Parties (Paris Agreement, Article 6, Section 4).

Reduction Targets

Market Mechanisms

■It was determined that among the developed nations, based on the ongoing goals for existing funding procurement targets, new goals must be set at a minimum of 100 billion dollars per year by 2025 (COP21 decision, paragraph 54).

Funding Support

■Parties shall strengthen cooperative action on technology development and transfer (Paris Agreement, Article 10, Section 2).

■Accelerating, encouraging and enabling innovation is critical for an effective, long-term global response to climate change and promoting economic growth and sustainable development. (Paris Agreement, Article 10, Section 5).

Technology Transfer and Innovation

■This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession (Paris Agreement, Article 21).

Enactment

NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa giving closing remarks at the COP21 official side event

NEDO Special Adviser Hiroshi Kuniyoshi talking about the importance of innovation at a panel

Side Events Hosted by NEDO at the COP21 ConferenceCOP21 Official Side EventLow carbon/emission Development and Growth: Towards New Regime from ParisJointly organized with the Japanese Business Federation, the GlobalIndustrial and Social Progress Research Institute (GISPRI) and the Instituteof Energy Economics, Japan

Japan Pavilion Side EventCreation of Innovation to Strengthen Climate ActionJointly organized with Climate-KIC (the EU’s largest initiative spanningindustry, academia and government that targets innovation for climate change action)How to Innovate Environment Friendly Socio-Systems for Multi-Benefit Climate ActionsJointly organized with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa and staff members from the Representative Office in Europe, International Affairs Department, and Global Environment Technology Promotion Division attended COP21

nd2COP 21 and JCM Featured Articles

1 Entrance to the COP21 Conference Centre. 2 Joy at the adoption of the Paris Agreement: COP21 Special Representative Laurence Tubiana of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left), UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres (middle) and COP21 President Laurent Fabius (Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France) (right). 3 Admission ticket to the COP21 plenary (general session) leading to the historic moment of the adoption of the Paris Agreement. 4 Eifel Tower constructed at the conference site decorated with messages for the future from each organization. 5 Staff member Ayaka Kubota trying to ride a next generation one wheel vehicle in the COP21 Exhibition Hall. 6 A bilateral meeting held with UNIDO. 7 NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa chatting with an Indonesian representative at the JCM High-level Meeting.

JCMJCM Related Activities Implementedby NEDO around the World

Vietnam

High-efficiency capacity inverter air conditioning and total heat exchange ventilation fan installed in a hospital ward

State-owned Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, one of the demonstration sites

Demonstration machine installation ceremony held in Hanoi

Ribbon-cutting for the installation ceremony

● Implement greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in countries that have signed the bilateral document　related to the JCM

● The object of JCM demonstration projects is to obtain a third-party verification regarding greenhouse gas reduction amount by the project, by applying the MRV methodology to projects that introduce advanced low carbon technology and system to a host nation and utilizing the JCM Joint Committee review procedure.

Conducting Discussion with JCM Partner Countries to Promote Projects

31, 2015), to report the project progress and explain newly selected projects. In addition, NEDO discussed the JCM demonstration project scheme and future development plans with government representatives from Thai, which became the 16th JCM signatory nation in November 2015.

At the COP21, NEDO conducted individual meetings with government representatives including Indonesia and Vietnam where NEDO is performing JCM demonstration projects, among the JCM partner countries (countries with bilateral documents signed. 16 countries as of December


The JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism) is a kind of voluntary framework that, through cooperation between developed and developing countries, promotes building a low carbon society through expansion and utilization of advanced low carbon / low emission technology, products, systems, services and infrastructure in developing countries.

It can quantitatively evaluate the contributions to resulting

reductions or absorption of greenhouse gas emissions, and the amount of reductions or absorption that has been verified can be credited as one part of an effort to lesson various greenhouse gases declared internationally by the both countries. This is in keeping with the ultimate goals set forth in the Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Until now under the UNFCCC, there was the Kyoto Protocol adopted at the COP3 as an international framework to raise the effectiveness of greenhouse gas reduction (first commitment period: 2008-2012; second commitment period: 2013-2020). Under this protocol, developed countries were charged with greenhouse gas reduction targets and the Kyoto Mechanisms using the market mechanisms were accepted as an auxiliary means of achieving those targets. As a result, a way to have efforts made to reduce emissions abroad to be accepted as domestic reduction efforts became available for developed countries with difficulties in domestic reduction, and in FY2006, NEDO also began conducting projects geared to achieve Japanese reduction targets. However, there are a variety of issues inherent in the Kyoto Mechanisms such as the complexity and extended time period of the procedure, as well as transfer of credits (discharge reduction units).

Japan advocated the JCM as a new mechanism to counterbalance these problems, provide a flexible bilateral framework, and realize the

net reductions on global level by guaranteeing maintainability and transparency. Japan developed the mechanism and began putting it to work with Mongolia in 2013. Following this, it has spread to 16 countries including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Palau, Cambodia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Myanmar and Thailand. Moreover at COP21 the Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement approving the JCM structure and it is expected to join in the near future.

In addition, in the Paris Agreement adopted at COP21, voluntary collaborations including the international emission reduction amounts such as the JCM in order for each country to reach its own targets (nationally determined contribution: NDC), were approved under set conditions, which has increased the relevance of the JCM.

Based on the Japanese policies promoting the JCM, NEDO launched JCM-related activities in low carbon technology and system demonstrations in FY2011 as the “Dissemination and Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasure Technology.” NEDO is promoting highly important demonstration projects in conjunction with JCM partner nation’s policies and through cooperation with partner country’s government agencies. For example, NEDO is implementing projects on energy saving in hospitals and hotels in Vietnam, in operation optimization controls in a state-owned oil company’s oil refineries – a high energy consumption industry in Indonesia, and on energy saving in a state-owned data center that plays a key role for the national IT policy in Lao PDR. Furthermore, promoting greenhouse gas emission reduction on a global scale through the spread of this kind of technology will become critical in near future. NEDO will continue working on solving climate change issues on a global scale through conducting project selections and project management from this perspective and performing demonstration projects utilizing the JCM.

This project is comprised of technology demonstration utilizing energy management systems that control air conditioning units in unison and verification of the effectiveness of greenhouse gas emission reductions after installing approximately 1,000 high-efficiency capacity inverter air conditioning units in two national hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. The aim is to raise the efficiency of the air conditioning in the entire hospitals, to improve the quality of indoor air in the hospitals through more suitable ventilation, and to establish and promote green hospitals. Moreover, the project takes environmental integrity into consideration by responding to deal appropriately with fluorocarbons from discarded air conditioners when replacing the air conditioners.

In August of 2014 NEDO signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam and started the project. After receiving approval from the Japan-Vietnam JCM Joint Committee, on November 30, 2015, the project was registered as a JCM project, the first for NEDO demonstration projects. Going forward, as a JCM project there will be a one year monitoring period in which MRV (measure, report and verify) will be implemented regarding the efficacy of greenhouse gas emission reduction to make clear the technological contribution toward climate change “mitigation”.

In addition, in this project NEDO partners with the energy saving labeling system that is being promoted by the Vietnamese government. A balanced room-type calorimeter will be installed in Vietnam’s Testing and Verifications Centre for Industry/Institute of Energy and Mining Machine (TVCI/IEMM) to appropriately conduct inverter air conditioning performance evaluation even in an environment like a hospital where air conditioning runs continuously all year round. In the future, in addition to verifying the impact of energy efficiency in both of the hospitals, through performance evaluations using these devices, NEDO will support the dissemination of advanced inverter air conditioning units with high energy saving capacity promoted by Japan in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s “Green Hospitals Project” Registered as a JCM Project

nd2 COP 21 and JCM Featured Article

J C M P R O J E C T

Realizing a Low Carbon Society under Partnerships with Developing Nations and Contributing to Lessening the Problems of Climate Change

NEDO Promotes New Efforts after Achieving the Reduction Targets of the First Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol

Overview of JCM Demonstration Projects

Project Summary

Her Excellency Tamayo Marukawa, Minister of the Environment (fourth from the left) and Tsuyoshi Hoshino, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (third from the left), posing for a photo session with JCM signatory county representatives at the JCM High-level Meeting held at the COP21.

NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa introduces NEDO to Minister of the Environment Tamayo Marukawa

Director General Shinsuke Unisuga and Director Masanori Kobayashi from Global Environment Technology Promotion Division discuss with representatives from the government of Thailand

Japan Hostcountry

JCM demonstration projects

Disseminate advanced low carbon technology and implement mitigation activities

Joint committee determining the MRV

methodology

CreditsAmount of

reduction/absorption of greenhouse gas emissions

Use to reach Japanese

reduction targets

JCMproject

MRV

Japan

NEDO

Contract company

Hostcountry

Responsibleministry/agency

Site,Company,

etc.

Third PartyEntity (TPE) Verification of greenhouse gas emission reduction amount

Bilateral document

Cooperative agreement regarding demonstration projects

Project implementation agreementPDD (project design document)MRV implementation

JCMJCM Related Activities Implementedby NEDO around the World

Vietnam

High-efficiency capacity inverter air conditioning and total heat exchange ventilation fan installed in a hospital ward

State-owned Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, one of the demonstration sites

Demonstration machine installation ceremony held in Hanoi

Ribbon-cutting for the installation ceremony

● Implement greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in countries that have signed the bilateral document　related to the JCM

● The object of JCM demonstration projects is to obtain a third-party verification regarding greenhouse gas reduction amount by the project, by applying the MRV methodology to projects that introduce advanced low carbon technology and system to a host nation and utilizing the JCM Joint Committee review procedure.

Conducting Discussion with JCM Partner Countries to Promote Projects

31, 2015), to report the project progress and explain newly selected projects. In addition, NEDO discussed the JCM demonstration project scheme and future development plans with government representatives from Thai, which became the 16th JCM signatory nation in November 2015.

At the COP21, NEDO conducted individual meetings with government representatives including Indonesia and Vietnam where NEDO is performing JCM demonstration projects, among the JCM partner countries (countries with bilateral documents signed. 16 countries as of December


The JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism) is a kind of voluntary framework that, through cooperation between developed and developing countries, promotes building a low carbon society through expansion and utilization of advanced low carbon / low emission technology, products, systems, services and infrastructure in developing countries.

It can quantitatively evaluate the contributions to resulting

reductions or absorption of greenhouse gas emissions, and the amount of reductions or absorption that has been verified can be credited as one part of an effort to lesson various greenhouse gases declared internationally by the both countries. This is in keeping with the ultimate goals set forth in the Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Until now under the UNFCCC, there was the Kyoto Protocol adopted at the COP3 as an international framework to raise the effectiveness of greenhouse gas reduction (first commitment period: 2008-2012; second commitment period: 2013-2020). Under this protocol, developed countries were charged with greenhouse gas reduction targets and the Kyoto Mechanisms using the market mechanisms were accepted as an auxiliary means of achieving those targets. As a result, a way to have efforts made to reduce emissions abroad to be accepted as domestic reduction efforts became available for developed countries with difficulties in domestic reduction, and in FY2006, NEDO also began conducting projects geared to achieve Japanese reduction targets. However, there are a variety of issues inherent in the Kyoto Mechanisms such as the complexity and extended time period of the procedure, as well as transfer of credits (discharge reduction units).

Japan advocated the JCM as a new mechanism to counterbalance these problems, provide a flexible bilateral framework, and realize the

net reductions on global level by guaranteeing maintainability and transparency. Japan developed the mechanism and began putting it to work with Mongolia in 2013. Following this, it has spread to 16 countries including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Palau, Cambodia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Myanmar and Thailand. Moreover at COP21 the Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement approving the JCM structure and it is expected to join in the near future.

In addition, in the Paris Agreement adopted at COP21, voluntary collaborations including the international emission reduction amounts such as the JCM in order for each country to reach its own targets (nationally determined contribution: NDC), were approved under set conditions, which has increased the relevance of the JCM.

Based on the Japanese policies promoting the JCM, NEDO launched JCM-related activities in low carbon technology and system demonstrations in FY2011 as the “Dissemination and Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasure Technology.” NEDO is promoting highly important demonstration projects in conjunction with JCM partner nation’s policies and through cooperation with partner country’s government agencies. For example, NEDO is implementing projects on energy saving in hospitals and hotels in Vietnam, in operation optimization controls in a state-owned oil company’s oil refineries – a high energy consumption industry in Indonesia, and on energy saving in a state-owned data center that plays a key role for the national IT policy in Lao PDR. Furthermore, promoting greenhouse gas emission reduction on a global scale through the spread of this kind of technology will become critical in near future. NEDO will continue working on solving climate change issues on a global scale through conducting project selections and project management from this perspective and performing demonstration projects utilizing the JCM.

This project is comprised of technology demonstration utilizing energy management systems that control air conditioning units in unison and verification of the effectiveness of greenhouse gas emission reductions after installing approximately 1,000 high-efficiency capacity inverter air conditioning units in two national hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. The aim is to raise the efficiency of the air conditioning in the entire hospitals, to improve the quality of indoor air in the hospitals through more suitable ventilation, and to establish and promote green hospitals. Moreover, the project takes environmental integrity into consideration by responding to deal appropriately with fluorocarbons from discarded air conditioners when replacing the air conditioners.

In August of 2014 NEDO signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) of Vietnam and started the project. After receiving approval from the Japan-Vietnam JCM Joint Committee, on November 30, 2015, the project was registered as a JCM project, the first for NEDO demonstration projects. Going forward, as a JCM project there will be a one year monitoring period in which MRV (measure, report and verify) will be implemented regarding the efficacy of greenhouse gas emission reduction to make clear the technological contribution toward climate change “mitigation”.

In addition, in this project NEDO partners with the energy saving labeling system that is being promoted by the Vietnamese government. A balanced room-type calorimeter will be installed in Vietnam’s Testing and Verifications Centre for Industry/Institute of Energy and Mining Machine (TVCI/IEMM) to appropriately conduct inverter air conditioning performance evaluation even in an environment like a hospital where air conditioning runs continuously all year round. In the future, in addition to verifying the impact of energy efficiency in both of the hospitals, through performance evaluations using these devices, NEDO will support the dissemination of advanced inverter air conditioning units with high energy saving capacity promoted by Japan in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s “Green Hospitals Project” Registered as a JCM Project

nd2 COP 21 and JCM Featured Article

J C M P R O J E C T

Realizing a Low Carbon Society under Partnerships with Developing Nations and Contributing to Lessening the Problems of Climate Change

NEDO Promotes New Efforts after Achieving the Reduction Targets of the First Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol

Overview of JCM Demonstration Projects

Project Summary

Her Excellency Tamayo Marukawa, Minister of the Environment (fourth from the left) and Tsuyoshi Hoshino, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (third from the left), posing for a photo session with JCM signatory county representatives at the JCM High-level Meeting held at the COP21.

NEDO Chairman Kazuo Furukawa introduces NEDO to Minister of the Environment Tamayo Marukawa

Director General Shinsuke Unisuga and Director Masanori Kobayashi from Global Environment Technology Promotion Division discuss with representatives from the government of Thailand

Japan Hostcountry

JCM demonstration projects

Disseminate advanced low carbon technology and implement mitigation activities

Joint committee determining the MRV

methodology

CreditsAmount of

reduction/absorption of greenhouse gas emissions

Use to reach Japanese

reduction targets

JCMproject

MRV

Japan

NEDO

Contract company

Hostcountry

Responsibleministry/agency

Site,Company,

etc.

Third PartyEntity (TPE) Verification of greenhouse gas emission reduction amount

Bilateral document

Cooperative agreement regarding demonstration projects

Project implementation agreementPDD (project design document)MRV implementation

[2nd Featured Article]Deploying Low Carbon Technology in the World through Promotion of

the JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism)

The COP21 Report

[1st Featured Article]Combating Global Warming

Environmental Technological Innovation

2016No.59

Reporting on Today and Tomorrow’s Energy, Environment and Industrial Technologies

MUZA Kawasaki Central Tower, 1310 Omiya-cho, Saiwai-kuKawasaki City, Kanagawa 212-8554 JapanTel: +81-44-520-5100 Fax: +81-44-520-5103URL: http://www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html May 2016 (1st Edition)

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Environmental Technological Innovation - NEDO C over Illustration The motif of a single leaf is used to represent the beginning of a bright future made possible by technologies that