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Today, the world is facing great changes and the need to
respond to these changes is becoming increasingly urgent.
In particular, the reduction of greenhouse gases has
emerged as a vital issue for all humanity?one that must
be tackled through efforts that extend beyond individual
companies or nations.
The Mitsubishi Group is tackling environmental issues
through the efforts of member companies in their respective
fields, while also pursuing more efficient and more advanced
development through collaboration within the Group.
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The scope of these activities
includes efforts in the area of wind power, a field that has attracted growing
attention worldwide in recent years.
As a comprehensive manufacturer of machinery,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has promoted research and development on a
wide range of clean energy technologies, including wind power as well as hydroelectricity,
geothermal, solar energy and biomass.
MHI has been a pioneer in the development
of wind turbine generator in Japan. The company, which has been involved in the
development and manufacture of large wind turbines since 1980, is working on
the development of highly reliable wind turbines. MHI is also moving ahead the
development of 5 megawatts class off-shore wind turbines. The company hopes to
see these turbines in the application stage in a few years, and because of their
superior economic efficiency, they are expected to make significant contributions
to efforts to reduce CO2. |
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| Geothermal power also holds great potential in the area of
power generation. Mitsubishi Materials is working to develop
the business of geothermal power generation, which is
now attracting a great deal of attention as a source of clean
and renewable energy. The company is already engaged
in power generation and steam supply at two facilities in
Japan’s Akita Prefecture, namely the Onuma Geothermal
Power Plant and the Sumikawa Geothermal Power
Plant. In April 2010, Mitsubishi Materials also joined with
J-POWER and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to establish Yuzawa
Geothermal Power. With various tests commencing in June
2010, surveys are now being conducted in preparation for
the development of new geothermal power facilities. |
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There have also been efforts to produce new types of
environmentally-friendly cars. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
(MMC) has pursued the development of electric vehicles (EVs)
for more than 40 years, dating back to 1966. Recognizing
EVs, which emit no CO2 when driven, as the ultimate ecocars,
MMC proceeded to launch the production model of its
new-generation EV, the i-MiEV, in June 2009.
The i-MiEV uses a battery instead of a conventional
engine; if power for recharging the battery comes from
systems using natural energy such as wind, water or the
sun, then the i-MiEV truly stands out as a vehicle that is both
people-friendly and eco-friendly. The i-MiEV could potentially
be charged using electricity generated by rooftop solar
panels installed on the homes of users. This is no longer just
a dream―the day when this technology will be a reality is
now fast approaching. |
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The amount of energy the sun casts on the earth in one hour is comparable to the total energy used all over the world in one year. Photovoltaic (PV) systems utilize this energy from the sun. When generating energy, PV systems do not produce emissions such as CO2, SOx and NOx, which contribute to environmental problems like global warming or acid rain. Because such systems convert the inexhaustible power of the sun into electricity, they represent a sustainable form of energy that can serve our needs far into the future.
Mitsubishi Electric corporation has been a top manufacturer in the field of space technology ever since it pioneered the development of Japan’s first operational satellite, which was successfully launched in 1976. Over the years, the company has proven the high reliability of its PV technology for satellites in the demanding space environment. Mitsubishi Electric is fully leveraging the advanced technologies developed through these activities in ground-based systems, including residential systems as well as various public and industrial systems in Japan and many other countries around the world.
At Mitsubishi Chemical, organic synthesis technologies are being utilized to advance research |
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and development on “organic solar cells”. These next-generation solar cells, which are lighter than conventional solar cells, can be used in wide-ranging applications.
Meanwhile, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) has collaborated with JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation on the development of a ship that is partially powered by solar energy. Construction of the 60,213 ton-car carrier, named “Auriga Leader”, was completed in December 2008. Field experiments conducted through July 2009 demonstrated the PV system’s capacity to withstand salt water, wind pressure and vibrations while at sea. The integration of the PV system with the ship’s electrical system was also verified. Further experiments will be conducted in the future as NYK Line aims to realize commercially viable solar-powered ships.
While focusing on an energy vision for the entire globe, the Mitsubishi Group will continue to lead the world in proposing solutions to support the realization of a sustainable society by taking advantage of cutting-edge technologies fostered through years of involvement in space development and by drawing on the Group’s far-reaching technical capabilities, which have long supported Japan’s infrastructure. |
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