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Japanese Energy Efficient Technologies World Energy Outlook

It is well appreciated that energy consumption levels have been quickly increasing in the regions such as Asia where economic development has been rapidly progressing in recent years. According to statistical data published by the IEA (see Figs. 1 and 2), this tendency has been remarkably recognized in non-OECD countries such as China and India in particular. It is predicted that this trend will continue to be seen in future as well. As the result, it is greatly concerned that increasing CO2 emission levels, associated with the consumption of fossil fuels (see Fig. 3), would have a significant impact on climate change on a global scale.

Fig. 1 World Primary Consumption Fig. 2 Primary Energy Consumption in Asia

Fig. 3 World CO2 Emission

Meanwhile, it is predicted that energy supplies would gradually become tighter in the long term as seen in such examples as crude oil prices that have already exceeded 90 US$ per barrel, and that energy prices in future might increase but would not decrease. In addition, it is worried that fossil fuels would be exhausted. Therefore, efficient use of energy results in one of the important measures in terms of securing sustainable economic development. However, at the same time, according to the IEA, secure and effective measures contributing to CO2 reduction are also considered to be “energy saving” methods, which are said to be followed by measures of “introducing new and renewable energies”. The IEA has presented some of the measures that are recommended to respective sectors (see Table 1), and Japan has been implementing almost all those measures like technologies, facilities, products and others, most of which are shown in this catalogue of Products & Technologies.

(Source: IEEJ)Source: IEEJ

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Table.1 IEA Recommendation for EE&C

Energy Situations in Japan

In the 1970s, Japan has experienced the oil crises originated from the Middle East. Not only industries but also household and residential sectors have suffered from soaring energy prices. Subsequently, the government and people have united their efforts to promote energy management activities. In addition, they have vigorously worked toward developing technologies and have created devices, technologies, and systems with high efficiency in the use of energies. Moreover, they have been widely diffused in the country as investment incentives have been actively provided while the energy prices have been high. As the result, for about 15 years since 1973, the country has been able to dramatically double its GDP without increasing the energy consumption levels. Afterward the country has continued to make efforts to develop and to diffuse such energy saving technologies. Its GDP has grown and is currently 2.4 times larger than that of 1973. Nevertheless, the energy consumption levels have been restrained and the current level remains 1.3 times larger than that of 1973. In particular, the energy consumption in industrial sector has fallen by 0.9 times (see Fig. 4).

Final Energy Consumption in Japan

Fig. 4 Transition of Final Energy Consumption in Japan

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When the above situations are clarified in terms of the transition of Japan’s GDP versus its primary energy consumption, as presented in Fig. 5, more than 35 percent of improvement has been achieved since the oil crises, and energy saving efforts have continued in order to produce better results. The catalogue of Products & Technologies shows a number of technologies that have led Japan’s energy saving efforts to success in these ways.

Primary Energy Supply per GDP (Petroleum Equivalent in tons/JPY trillion)

Fig. 5 Trend of Primary Energy Intensity per GDP in Japan Energy-Efficiency Analysis in Industrial Sector (1) General

Regarding the industrial sector, energy efficiency levels at several types of industries in various countries are compared as shown in Fig. 6. Japan has achieved the world’s best energy efficiency standards in almost all the types of industry. That is, it is possible to say that the high energy saving levels have been achieved by diffusing high energy efficient technologies including those in the catalogue of Products & Technologies.

Electricity Iron Chemical

Cement Paper/Paper Board

Source: The Summary of the Results of a Follow-up FY2012 and FY2011 under the Keidanren Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment Section on Global Warming Measures Japan Business Federation

Fig. 6 Energy Efficiency by Industry Sub-Sectors

1,8

1,7

1,6

1,5

1,4

1,3

1,2

1,1

1,0

0,9

0,8

Improvement by over 35％

Act Concerning Rational Use of Energy (EC Act)

2nd Oil Crisis

1st Oil Crisis

Fiscal Year

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Energy Efficiency Analysis in Industrial Sector (2) Thermal Power Generation In the case of coal-fired as a field in the thermal power generation, as Fig. 7, Japan has maintained the

world’s top level efficiency.

Fig. 7 Coal Fired Thermal Power Plant Efficiency of Major Countries

By introducing Japan’s cutting edge high efficiency technologies for coal fired power generation, and

carrying out replacement and other actions of a similar item, a country as a whole would be able to yield great energy saving effects.

We supposed that Japan’s power generation efficiency is 41 %, and that a certain country’s power

generation efficiency is 33 %, the country, by introducing Japan’s technologies, would be able to reduce its expansion scale of the power plant to 80 % of the previously planned one. The country would also be able to decrease its coal usage level to 80 %.

Electric power companies in Japan have carried out their consulting services in relation to master plans of construction, maintenance, and management of fired power generation plants. Reference to the catalogue of Products & Technologies will enable to ensure an effective use of fired power generation facilities of your country.

Energy Efficiency Analysis in Industrial Sector (2) Effective Utilization of Thermal Energy

In the industrial sector, a variety of efficient technologies have been developed for the effective utilization of thermal energy. This book shows many efficient technologies, such as cogeneration, recovery of waste thermal energy, high efficiency furnaces, high efficiency boilers, facility for the effective use of steam. Industrial processes consuming fuel and thermal energy, the amount of exhausted energy is high, so that much energy saving effect can be realized by technologies for reducing exhausted thermal energy or technologies for recovering waste thermal energy. Also those technologies have usually effective aspects for environment. By the above, rapid progress has been made in the implementation of those technologies. Those can be applied not only for a new implementation, but also for a revamping of existing process.

Some examples are shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, which are the prevalence of cogeneration and high efficiency industrial furnace.

Source: Summarized by ECCJ based on data at ECOFYS Web site

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Fig. 8 Prevalence of Cogeneration in Industrial Sector (Source: Advanced Cogeneration and Energy Utilization Center Japan)

Fig. 9 Prevalence of High Efficiency Industrial Furnaces (Source: Created by ECCJ based on the data from NEDO and JIFMA)

Energy Efficiency Analysis in Commercial and Residential Sectors As it is realized in Fig. 4, energy consumption levels have rapidly increased since the latter half of

1980s in the commercial and residential sectors for such reasons as the people’s improved lives as well as commercial activities deployed in new sectors. A policy called “Top Runner Program” has greatly contributed to these sectors. Highly energy efficient home electric appliances and office devices have been developed and supplied to the domestic market. Thanks to their effects, the growth of the energy consumption levels in these sectors has been restrained for about 15 recent years. A number of products with performance levels that are higher than the Top Runner Standards have been provided in the catalogue of Products & Technologies.

Figure xxx Dissemination status of high-performance industrial furnaces

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One of most important technologies in these sectors, is the highly developed technology of thermal transfer for heating, cooling and refrigerating. It is sometimes called “heat-pump” because it transfers heat energy. Japan has greatly developed highly efficient thermal transfer technology, and has applied it to air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, and others devices. In addition, Fig. 10 describes an actual achievement result of an energy saving effect related to an air conditioner for home use. This has been developed by way of combining not only thermal the transfer technology but highly efficient control technology based on the inverter technology and environmental parameters including temperature. And this has prevailed all over Japan. Fig. 11 compares each COP (Coefficient of Performance) of top models in various countries.

Fig. 10 Electricity Consumption of Residential Air-Conditioner

Source: “Energy Conservation Policies of Japan”, METI/ANRE

Fig. 11 Comparison of energy efficiency (COP) values of air conditioners between countries

(Source: “Energy Conservation Policies of Japan”, METI/ANRE)

Ref) COP is the index of EE, defined as performance divided by electricity consumption. Efficiency is higher as COP increases.

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It would be possible to expect the following effects if an air conditioner for home use (about COP = 3) would be replaced with a Japanese product (more than COP = 6).

<An estimate example> A number of diffused air conditioners: 5 million A number of hours of using the air cooling function: 8 hours/ day × 300 days/ year The air cooling capacity of the air conditioner: 3kW class The COP of currently used product and power consumption: COP = 3; power consumption = 1.0 kW The Japanese product’s COP and power consumption: COP = 6; power consumption = 0.5 kW

A calculation based on the above data shows that the following energy saving could be achieved: (1.0 - 0.5) kW/unit × 5,000,000 units = 2,500,000 kW ···························(1) 2,500,000 kW × 8 hours × 300 days/year = 6 billion kWh/year ·············(2)

The amount of (2) corresponds to about 1,720,000 tons of crude oil equivalent of energy saving and about 5,280,000 tons of CO2 equivalent of emission reduction. Also the amount of (1) corresponds to 12 sets of 200,000 kW power generation plant in case those air conditioners work at the peak demand.

Roadmap for Worldwide Utilization

Highly developed technologies for energy efficiency and renewable energy can produce a great advantage of saving energy. Currently international efforts and activities are being made for prevailing energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. This book is planned for diffusion of highly developed technologies for energy efficiency and renewable energy by showing Japanese products & technologies of high energy efficiency and renewable energy, and by providing explanations, features and effects of those products & technologies. The products and technologies are listed as for eight sectors: “Factory”, “Industries”, “Office, Building”, “Residence”, “Construction, Transportation & Logistic”, “Power Generation & Distribution”, “Renewable Energy & Storage Battery” and “Energy Solution Service”.

Also it is noted that the technologies in this book is environmentally friendly by reducing energy consumption and by sometimes improve environment directly, and that Japanese technologies in this book is also characterized as “quality” and “durability”, which gives lifecycle impacts of energy efficiency.

This book also has information on the contact points, which helps the study of feasibility and planning for adaption. In addition, there are companies and associations referred in this book, which have the capability of integrated realization using the technologies in this book, or which have the capability of consulting for throughout planning for energy consumption reduction, basic designs of various plants or revamping for energy efficiency and renewable energy related to industrial estates.

It is expected that this book is fully utilized as the strong support for diffusion and application of the highly developed technologies for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

(Written by International Cooperation Division, ECCJ)

International Cooperation Division, ECCJ