Mitsubishi Monitor 0708 GREEN DIAMONDS

Carrying thousands of tons of cargo across the seas requires significant engine power. But so far, container vessels have needed to use their huge onboard diesel generators even while in port—in other words, not going anywhere but still spewing harmful emissions.
NYK has taken steps to remedy the situation. In April, the company announced plans to equip 38 of its container vessels between 4,800 and 8,600 TEUs* with Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) technology at a cost of US$22 million.

Connecting the vessel to on-land electrical power cuts emissions


		NYK ATLAS was the first vessel to have AMP built in

      AMP enables vessels to shut down onboard diesel power while in dock and connect directly to more environment-friendly shore-side electrical power. This almost eliminates emissions of CO2, NOx (nitrogen oxide), SOx (sulfur oxide) and PM (particulate matter).
      In 2004, the NYK ATLAS became the first NYK vessel to be built from the keel up to utilize AMP. In its wake, 20 new ships currently on order will be delivered with AMP capability. In addition, 17 ships presently in service will be retrofitted with AMP during their regular inspections, and eight 8,600 TEU-size vessels currently on order will be equipped with leak-preventing hulls and electronically controlled engines that further cut air emissions.
      NYK expects to have over 30 of the AMP-capable vessels in service by the end of 2009.

*TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) describes a vessel’s size by its capacity to carry 20-foot containers, the most common container type worldwide. For instance, a 4,800 TEU vessel can carry 4,800 such containers.

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Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors have begun collaboration with
GS Yuasa Corporation on establishing a joint venture to manufacture large-capacity, high-performance lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The three partners aim to complete the details and set up the new company in the next six months.
      GS Yuasa, which specializes in storage batteries, power supplies and other electric equipment, is expected to own a 51% share of the new company, with Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors owning 34% and 15%, respectively. The new company’s headquarters will be located within GS Yuasa’s Kyoto head office. During the first stage of development, ¥3.0 billion will be invested to install automated mass production lines within GS Yuasa’s Kyoto head office plant, capable of manufacturing 200,000 cells per year. Operations are scheduled to commence by 2009.
      The new batteries will be based on GS Yuasa’s LIM series of large-capacity lithium-ion batteries, and will have ten times the capacity of those currently used for hybrid vehicles thanks to improved cell-structure and electrode materials.
      Demand for large-capacity lithium-ion batteries is expected to increase dramatically across a wide variety of industries, including automobiles. By combining their unique strengths, the three companies will be well placed to meet this demand.

The new batteries will offer very high performance

(From left) Koichi Komatsu, Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi Corporation; Katsuyuki Ono, Managing Director, GS Yuasa Corporation; and Tetsuro Aikawa, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Motors

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In June, Kirin Brewery launched a range of new environmental initiatives in support of the anti-global warming campaign rolled out by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE).
The MOE started its Team Minus 6% campaign in late 2005 with the aim of reducing Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions to 6% below the 1990 level, as set by the Kyoto Protocol. Previously, only three Kirin Group affiliates—Kirin Beer, Kirin Beverage and Kirin Logistics—were part of Team Minus 6%, but this has now been expanded to 12. Individuals are also encouraged to join the campaign.
The new initiatives also aim to firmly establish the COOL BIZ idea in the Group. Over the summer, employees have donned light summer business attire, while office thermostats have been set to 28°C.

There is now also an information display on COOL BIZ at the corporate headquarters.
Employees have also been urged to unplug their computers from the wall socket at the end of the day, rather than switching off or using stand-by mode. Moreover, Kirin Logistics’ trucks now carry an “idling stop” sticker as part of a drive to cut greenhouse gases during deliveries.
Thanks to its proactive environmental stance, Kirin Brewery was able to reduce total emissions by 25% below the 1990 level by 2006, far ahead of the original target of 2010. The company now aims for a total reduction of 35% by 2009.

The Ecojiro character is the symbol of the Kirin Group’s environmental activities

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Solar panels will be installed at all of MHI’s factories and divisions

As a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI’s) worldwide CO2-reduction activities, solar power systems or photovoltaic (PV) systems, which are widely recognized as one of the cleanest energy sources, will be installed at MHI’s factories by the beginning of 2008. These PV systems, featuring MHI PV modules, will be capable of generating 720 kW of electricity completely free from CO2 emissions.
MHI’s PV systems utilize next-generation thin-film PV modules featuring amorphous-Si and microcrystalline-Si tandem technology, developed by MHI together with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), and will be produced at the Isahaya Factory of

MHI Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works.
      In addition to the environmental benefits of highly efficient production of clean energy, this new type of PV module also offers economic benefits due to a shorter energy payback period* compared with other PV modules featuring crystalline-silicon cells.
      Installing the new PV systems will increase the total solar power generation capacity of the MHI facilities, including existing systems, to more than 1 MW. The benefits of these installations will result in a CO2 reduction amounting to 340 tons per year, which is equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 65 hectares of forest.
      MHI is committed to CO2-reduction activities through the installation of PV systems. The company will continue its efforts to address worldwide global warning concerns by providing power generation equipment, emission control systems, and other machinery and equipment featuring state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly technologies to customers.

* The energy payback period is the time that the PV system needs to operate to recover the energy—and related emissions of CO2—used during its production and installation.

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Mitsubishi Logistics has long been known as a speedy and reliable logistics service provider. Now, we can add another adjective—“environment-friendly.”
In March 2007, the company obtained the Green Management Certification for its efforts to promote recycling, conserve energy, use environment-friendly office products and introduce facilities and equipment with less environmental impact.
The certification covers the company’s six domestic branches, as well as the 22 offices throughout Japan that manage warehouse operations. Each local office received the certification jointly with the operating company that handles its storage, delivery and internal warehouse operations.

Sakurajima Warehouse No. 2 in Osaka, Japan, was among those certified

      Ryoso Transportation Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Logistics, also obtained the certification for environmental initiatives at its main business sites.
      The Green Management Certification has been issued by the Foundation for Promoting Personal Mobility and Ecological Transportation (EcoMo Foundation) since October 2003, and is specifically aimed at trucking and logistics companies. It was created in cooperation with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Japan Trucking Association, with additional grants from the Nippon Foundation.
      After passing an assessment, companies receive the certification for two years at a time. During this time, they are subject to periodical follow-up assessments and must also submit annual reports of their environmental activities.
      Getting the certification has spurred Mitsubishi Logistics to continue its environmental efforts, and the Monitor looks forward to reporting on more great results.

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The new Interpretation Center hosts a range of engaging information displays

In the fight to preserve the world’s biological and ecological diversity, education is vital. At the Esteros del Ibera natural reserve in Argentina, this education comes in a highly innovative form thanks to an initiative being supported by Mitsubishi Corporation in Argentina.
      In April 2007, the Ibera reserve, one of the largest wetlands in South America and one of the most important biodiversity assets of Argentina, received its first Interpretation Center. Through the Center’s auditorium, exhibitions and thematic areas—created by a joint team of museum experts, biologists, anthropologists, photographers and other experts—tourists can explore and appreciate the area’s unique flora and fauna, indigenous communities and history.
      The inauguration ceremony was well-attended by both national and provincial authorities as well as the media. Masazumi Okamoto, Director of Mitsubishi Argentina, and Silvia Bonsignori, General Manager of the New Business Development Department, attended on behalf of Mitsubishi Argentina.
      In 2006, Mitsubishi Corporation awarded Funafu, an NPO specializing in ecotourism, a US$84,000 grant to build three Interpretation Centers in Ibera—the remaining two will follow in the fall of 2007. At present, there are only four similar information centers in the country. The project, which both helps to protect the environment and create local jobs, aims to serve as a model for other ecotourism ventures.

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