Implementation of Environmental Businesses
Marubeni Group's Environmental Businesses across All Sectors
The Marubeni Group has been engaged in a range of environmental businesses, such as recycling and the development of new energy sources. Recognizing the growing importance of environmental protection, we have been launching many new projects and businesses in this area. Examples of our wide-ranging environmental businesses include offering greener products and services and developing "clean energy" that emits less CO2 and hazardous substances.
In fiscal 2011, the "Photovoltaic Generation and Lithium-Ion Batteries Strategy Committee" was reorganized as the "Photovoltaic, Lithium, and Smart Community Strategy Committee" to expand the scope of our existing photovoltaic power generation and lithium-ion batteries business to include "smart community" projects. Centering on these areas, we are working to identify opportunities and implement new projects and aiming to develop new business models consisting of environmental businesses from mediumand long-term perspectives. We also support cross-divisional businesses and collaborations among different divisions to explore opportunities for new businesses that will contribute to environmental conservation.
Topics
Promoting Electric Cars in Chile
Electric car in Chile
Being the world's largest producer of lithium and copper-materials that are essential in the production of electric cars-Chile has a strong interest in promoting the use of electric vehicles within its borders.
To support and advance the introduction of electric cars within Chile from both a software and hardware standpoint, Marubeni entered into an agreement with the University of Chile in 2009 to collaborate on the introduction and evaluation of needed infrastructure and technologies.
In November 2010, Marubeni also agreed with Chilectra, a large Chilean power company, and Petrobras, which operates gas stations in Chile, to cooperate in establishing a network of fast charging stations for electric vehicles. Based on the agreement, we sold fast battery chargers produced by SGTE-Power, a French company, to Chilectra and have been contacting and negotiating with operators of gas stations and public parking lots to install the chargers.
Supplying Solar Panels in Thailand
In September 2010, Marubeni entered into an agreement with Gunkul Powergen Co., Ltd. (GPG), an independent power producer (IPP) in Thailand, to deliver solar panels with a total capacity of 3.4 MW for its new large-scale photovoltaic power plant. The solar panels were duly delivered in October and the construction of the power plant was completed on schedule in December 2010.
The solar panels are made by Solar Frontier K.K., a subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., and feature cutting edge technology using compound materials. Marubeni is focusing on photovoltaics primarily in the Asian market, aiming to win more engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts and expand its sales network for solar panels. Receiving 1.4 times more sunlight than Japan, Thailand, which is promoting the introduction of renewable energy via a variety of programs, appears to be a very attractive market for the solar industry. The country has announced a target to increase solar power generation to 500 MW by 2022, signaling that the development of solar power stations and other renewable energy facilities will continue into the future.
Enterting the Wind Power Business in Canada
Wind power generation project in Raleigh,Canada
In December 2010, Marubeni acquired an ownership interest in a 78-MW wind power project developed in Canada by Invenergy, a large North American power project developer. Invenergy and its affi liates develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable energy and clean power generation facilities in North America and Europe as one of the 6 largest wind power generation companies in the United States. The 78-MW project is the second partnership Marubeni has made with Invenergy.
For Marubeni, the project also means entrance into the power generation market in Canada. The wind farm started commercial operations in January 2011.
Marubeni is the largest Japanese company operating in the power generation industry outside of Japan. We are also an active player in the renewable energy business market, with interests in Korea, the United States, Australia and other countries. In response to growing global demands for clean energy, we will continue to aggressively expand our business in this sector.
Exporting Japan's Clean Technologis
CCS project
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry initiates "Bilateral Offset Credit Mechanism" and funds the feasibility study program of the mechanism. Through this mechanism, Japan aims to contribute to mitigating global warming by promoting the widespread use of Japan's clean technologies overseas and appropriately evaluate Japan's contributions to reducing green house gas emissions.
In fi scal 2010, Marubeni was awarded 5 projects under the feasibility study program. This included projects in Indonesia relating to forest conservation and the carbon capture and storage (CCS) of CO2 generated in natural gas production, as well as a project in Vietnam to reduce CO2 emissions by introducting a highly effi cient coal-fi red power plant. Leveraging our strengths as a trading company operating in various sectors, Marubeni is implementing its projects using Japan's excellent clean technologies to reduce green house gas emissions to make positive contributions to the global environment and the Japanese economy.
Recycling Waste into Carbon Paper
"eco KuKKu" card-type deodorizer for shoes
Food processing waste, such as plum seeds, barley malt residue from beer production, and used coffee beans, is usually disposed of as industrial waste. The materials are fi rst turned into charcoal, which is then used to make the 100% recycled paper. Marubeni is working with its subsidiary, Marubeni Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd., a paper manufacturer named Sanyo Paper Co., Ltd, and a product planner and designer called cdf. Inc to develop and market recycled carbon paper products made from these waste materials.
Recycled carbon paper offers a range of benefi cial functional effects, such as deodorizing, moisture control, and mold prevention. We have developed and started to sell a series of products featuring these functions, such as card-type deodorizers for shoes, shoe bags, and suit-sized garment covers.
These unique products, which are helping society to become more recyclingoriented, have received a lot of attention both from consumers and the media, including being featured on the Nippon Television Network program "Omoikkiri Don."
The Nagoya Branch's Rooftop Garden Project
The rooftop garden, with a pond and abundant greenery
To make our offi ces more environmentally friendly, we installed a garden that functions as a biotope on the rooftop of the Nagoya Marubeni Building. The soil for this green roof is an artifi cial soil product called Verdenite, which has greater water and fertilizer retention than conventional soil and is created using our environmental technology.
The roof garden is not only visually pleasing but also serves as a biodiversity-friendly, quasi-satoyama forest and has become a permanent home to dragonfl ies, water striders, killifi sh and other creatures. Employees of the Nagoya Branch use the garden for relaxation and refreshment.
The garden was opened to the public during the July 2010 celebration of the 55th anniversary of the operation start of the Nagoya Branch in Marunouchi, Nagoya City.
