Environmental Business in Hyogo Prefecture ~

HYOGO-KOBE

March 2008 Vol.

Hyogo-Kobe Investment Support Center Hyogo Economic Development Center Hyogo-Kobe Business Support Center in Tokyo 7 The comprehensive service site that supports location of enterprises from both inside and outside Japan, Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building 4F Hyogo Club in Tokyo, Miyashita Building 6F USINESS6-1 Minatojima-Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0046 EWS2-3-9 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003 into "Hyogo-Kobe" through one-stop services. TEL: +81-78-302-2071 FAX: +81-78-302-2265 [email protected] TEL +81-3-3500-1361 FAX +81-3-3500-1362 [email protected] HYOGO-KOBE INVESTMENT SUPPORT CENTER INVESTMENT HYOGO-KOBE B N Leading the environmental business in Japan and Asia, with the keyword of "Global System" Marking the 100th anniversary of the foundation, we aim to soar even further ahead ALSTOM K.K., a pioneer in energy conservation and environmental protection ALSTOM K.K., whose head office is located in Kobe city, is the Japanese arm of the Alstom Group, which is headquartered in France and has 65,000 employees in more than 70 countries throughout the world. Being a pioneering foreign-affiliated firm, ALSTOM K.K. celebrated its 100th anniversary in Japan in November last year. As the times change, its organization has changed from Gadelius Trading in the early days of the foundation, to ABB, and then to ALSTOM K.K. The business cores, however, have consistently been energy conservation in power generation equipment and environmental protection. The Company President, Yoshihiro Shimomura was asked what policy and vision the Company has as one of the pioneers of environmental business in Japan.

rebuilding them), including CO2 reduction international role as a member of a global ALSTOM K.K. initiatives at existing power plants. With this company such as Alstom, focusing on the in mind, we believe it is our responsibility to global market as well as the Japanese mar- thoroughly conduct after-sales services. ket. We recently established a factory in President In Southeast Asia, on the other hand, de- Shanghai that manufactures major parts for mands for new power plant construction air preheaters as a joint venture with a local Yoshihiro Shimomura projects is still very strong. Japanese trading company in China. This is an example that houses and plant makers currently boost demonstrates our initiative of the Global Sys- - Please tell us about your current business ac- export and/or business development activi- tem. China these days faces various energy tivities. ties in the region supported by Japanese ODA and environment issues, and we believe it is Alstom Group’s business is largely classified (Official Development Assistance). We focus significantly important to contribute to envi- into two: railway transport and power gen- on participating in such initiatives by deliver- ronmental protection and infrastructure im- eration systems. The Group has the world’s ing power generation systems. Contributions provement there, based on the know-how and top or second position in railway transport, to the Group in such business initiatives are experiences we have accumulated in Japan. as represented by TGV, and as for the power considered very important because order vol- In order to achieve the Global System initia- plants, the Group maintains the world’s larg- umes often reach several hundred billion yen. tive, each employee’s expertise and capabili- est power generation installation base. Virtu- The Alstom Group embraces the strat- ties are of increasing importance. There- ally one out of four light bulbs in the world is egy that a local group company covers the fore, we have developed and implemented lit by power from power plants delivered by specific business field by capitalizing on our independent training program, called Alstom. its strength according to regions such as “MICHIZANE.” This program is to realize our ALSTOM K.K. specializes in supply of Americas, Europe and Asia. ALSTOM K.K. wish that employee training programs should power generation systems and maintenance with the long established energy conserva- be continuously developed and handed down services with focus in two fields: energy con- tion businesses and accumulated know-how from generation to generation. Further, servation and environmental protection. The is designated as a lead center for the energy Alstom Group has an international training core products are air preheaters, which are conservation business operations in Asia. program called “Alstom University,” in which energy-saving equipment for boilers. Cur- - Why did you choose Kobe as headquarters? employees are encouraged to actively partici- rently, approximately 900 air preheaters are While the Gadelius head office was in pate. on-stream and have been indispensable for Tokyo, the power generation business has - Please tell us your plans for future initiatives. power generation industries in Japan. Air always been located in Kobe since it opened CO2 reduction will be an increasingly preheaters improve boiler efficiency by about its office here in 1918. Since then we have important issue from now. The focal point, 5%, and the total energy-savings achieved established good relations with the local therefore, will be how and how much we since the end of World War II are equivalent major customers. In 1999, when the power can reduce or capture the CO2 emitted from to the heavy oil that would fill approximately generation business was acquired by Alstom, power plants, which is a 30 % contributor of 520 large-scale 300,000 ton oil tankers. Our we relocated the head office from Tokyo to total CO2 emissions in Japan. R&D initiatives major product in environmental protection is Kobe. As our business activities are mainly have been launched for CO2 zero emissions the electric precipitator, which is an exhaust design and engineering and our customers and CO2 capture, for which Alstom is now gas treatment system of power plants. We are spread out all over Japan from Hokkaido engaged in demonstration tests for full-scale have an excellent track record for nearly half to Okinawa, the location of the headquarters commercial application in 2012. a century in the business related to environ- is not of vital importance. We have our affili- mental preservation systems including the ated companies in and around Kobe and have ALSTOM K.K. electrostatic precipitators. been fully supported by the local industrial Head office location: 2-3-4, Minatojima- - What are the roles of the Company? technology infrastructure developed in this Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe city / Business We strive to continuously expand our op- area for many years. Furthermore with the initiation: November 1907 / Foundation: March erational presence in the domestic market. Kobe airport, easy access to the Shinkansen 1919 / Capital: 2,800,050,000 yen (capital Unfortunately, we can hardly hope for a large and the good living conditions Kobe offers, stock paid-in) / Business activities: research & increase of demand for new power generation we feel very comfortable here. development, engineering & design, production, sales & services regarding energy conservation- plants in Japan in the near future. However, - What is the theme and direction for the 100th related equipment, environmental protection there are opportunities to improve plant anniversary of business? equipment, and power generation systems / efficiency and scrap-and-build projects (de- Today, we pursue a total “Global System.” Number of employees: 270 persons molishing ageing equipment / facilities and In other words, we intend to take a more

http://www.hyogo-kobe.jp/his HYOGO-KOBE

March 2008 Vol.

Main environmental businesses in Hyogo prefecture (undertakings) Advanced environment-related Generates electric power through methane fermentation of animal and plant The Consumer Co-operative Kobe industries are concentrated residues. This power and waste edible oil are used to dry bean curd refuse to (Higashinada-ku, Kobe city) make feed. In Hyogo prefecture, heavy industries, etc., Asahi Pretec Corp. (Amagasaki city) * Conducts repair, reuse, and recycling of PCs, etc. that manufacture environment / energy-relat- Kobe Steel, Ltd. * Crushes and granulizes collected plastic, etc., and recycles them as reducer of ed plants, equipment, etc., are concentrated (Kakogawa city) iron ore. in the area centered on Amagasaki city, Kobe city, and Himeji city. The advancement of Kansai Tire Recycle Co., Ltd. Thermally discomposes waste tires, etc., to produce high-calorie gas and oil. (Himeji city) * small- and medium-sized companies has also been getting active, and the production value Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Established a small-scale distributed thermoelectric power supply system of environmental systems, etc., here accounts Akashi Plant (Akashi city) technology using wood biomass as the energy source and sells the system. for over 10% of that of the entire nation. The Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Ahead of the world in mass-producing amorphous silicon solar cells. Production share of systems for waste water treatment (Kasai city / Sumoto city) in plants in Sumoto and Kasai. and waste disposal in particular is high, and Matsushita Eco Technology Center Operates the base facility that makes used household electric appliances into another characteristic is that there are many (Yashirocho) usable products again. companies related to recycling of waste tires, Introduced a Japan’s largest-scale wind power generator (output: 1,950 Hotel New Awaji Plaza Awajishima kW) through a joint project with the New Energy and Industrial Technology etc., and new energy, such as cogeneration (Minamiawaji city) equipment and photovoltaic power genera- Development Organization (NEDO). tion. Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Agricultural Operates a large-scale photovoltaic generation system as a field test project Furthermore, the prefecture established Institute (Minamiawaji city) through joint research by the prefecture and NEDO. the “Hyogo Eco-town Project,” which aims (* indicates a major activity of the “Hyogo Eco-town Project.”) to realize a wide-area resources recycling system by making the best use of the facility ture / Guangdong Province Protocol Concern- and go on to take various environmental infrastructure of materials-type industries, ing Environmental Protection Technology measures, and it will be a great opportunity etc., and land and sea physical distribution Exchange and Environmental Business” with for the environment-related industries in the infrastructure, which supported the high Guangdong Province and “Hyogo Prefecture prefecture to forward their efforts and results growth period. - Jiangsu Province Environmental Protection to the world. After receiving joint approval by the Min- Technology Exchange Protocol” with Jiangsu istry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Province. Thus, mutual exchanges by engi- Ministry of the Environment in 2003, the neers and visiting parties are made between Environmental Business Becomes a prefecture established recycling centers in the prefecture and respective provinces. Hyogo Brand, with "Design" as Key various places, centered on “recycling facilities that gasify waste tires.” Various projects, In May, the G8 Environment Satoshi Murashita which will lead the coming recycling-oriented Ministers Meeting will be Associate professor, Department of Management and society, are progressing. Information Science, Osaka International University conducted in Kobe Doctor (commercial science)

Collaboration with China Lake Toya summit in Hokkaido will be The environment is a global issue and it is difficult toward Progress of conducted in July this year, and preceding to solve an environmental problem based on that is the “Environment Ministers Meeting,” morals. It is important to tackle it as business Environmental Business according to economic principles. In this regard, which will be conducted from May 24 to 26 I believe Hyogo prefecture's environmental China, a country that has been making on Port Island in Chuo-ku, Kobe city. At this business measures are realistic and to the point. remarkable economic progress, is now facing meeting, G8 (major eight countries) and the Because there is now a stage where companies various environmental issues, such as air pol- European Commission’s ministers in charge can fully display their abilities, under the name of lution, water contamination, and other forms of environmental issues will assemble and ex- "Hyogo Eco-town Project," collaboration among of pollution, as well as waste disposal prob- change opinions focusing mainly on the three companies and new business opportunities lems, as Japan used to experience. Urgent themes: global warming, biodiversity, and the can be greatly expected. If the private sector's measures must be taken. Aiming to promote 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, of wastes). wisdom and power further accumulate in the exchange toward progress of environmental Furthermore, for four days from May 23 to future, environmental business will be Hyogo prefecture's brand. A brand is like a swarm of business by developing environmental sys- 26, the “Environmental Fair in Kobe” will be mosquitoes; it is difficult to create one intentionally, tems and technologies that respond to the ac- conducted through public-private collabora- but control is possible by applying light - and tual state of China, through collaboration and tion mainly at Kobe Central Gymnasium. that is the process of designing environmental exchange between the environment-related This event aims to help as many people as business. Because Hyogo prefecture already has companies in the prefecture and those in Chi- possible, including prefectural citizens, to its foundation, attractive designs not found in any na, the prefecture established “Hyogo Prefec- deepen their recognition of the environment other area can be expected.

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