#GX

Basic Knowledge of CCS Plants and the Role of Construction Consultants

One technology that is currently attracting significant attention as Japan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 is CCS, which involves capturing and storing CO2. CCS is an extremely important technology, especially for industries where decarbonization is considered very difficult, such as thermal power plants and steel mills, and is said to be a key to achieving carbon neutrality in Japan. We talked to Toyomitsu KANAI from Facility Engineering Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div. at PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, who is working on CCS projects.

Responding to the Issue of Replacing Wind Power Generation Equipment

Japan's onshore wind power generation, which began full-scale deployment in the 2000s, now has a cumulative installed capacity well over 5GW, and is expected to reach 18GW by 2030. The country plans to further increase onshore as well as offshore wind power generation in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, but along with new installations, the replacement (upgrading) of currently operating power plants will be essential. We spoke to Kentaro HAGA, Yamato IRIE, and Kana YAMAGUCHI of the Wind Power Promotion Project, Project Management Project Management Dept. Project Management Business Headquarters, who are responsible for wind power generation design at PACIFIC CONSULTANTS Consultants, about the challenges of replacement and key points in formulating an implementation plan.

What is Floating Offshore Wind Power Generation?

In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the Japanese government has set a target of 40-50% of renewable energy in the energy mix by fiscal year 2040. Wind power, particularly floating offshore wind power, is expected to play a major role alongside solar power. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS has a proven track record in the wind power field since the early 2000s. We spoke with three people about the current state and future outlook for floating offshore wind power: Takehiko SANO, General Manager of the Wind Power Promotion Project Sec. in the Project Management Dept. of the Project Management Div.; Katsuhide FUJISHIMA, Chief Engineer; and Aya IWANAMI, Assistant Technical Manager at the Earthquake Resistance Center in Structural Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div.

Energy-related Project in Rankoshi Town, Hokkaido

Rankoshi Town in Hokkaido is known nationwide as one of the best producers of delicious rice. It is a beautiful town blessed with abundant nature. However, like many local municipalities, it faces many challenges due to a declining population and an aging population with a low birthrate, and it also needed to take immediate action to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS noticed that Rankoshi Town was considering utilizing "Energy Structure Advancement and Conversion Understanding Promotion Project" of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and supported its efforts, such as developing solid fuel using rice husks and utilizing wastewater heat from hot springs, which have produced many results. Katsunori AMEJIMA of the Regional Energy Sec., Hokkaido Social Innovation Department, looks back on the project.

Introduction of Perovskite Solar Cells to Public Infrastructure

In February 2025, the government approved the 7th Basic Energy Plan, setting a goal of "The ratio of renewable energy to the power supply mix in FY2040 to be about 40% to 50%". Solar power generation is expected to be at the center of this. In particular, perovskite solar cells, which are being developed, are very thin and flexible, so they are expected to expand their installation locations at once. The Prime Minister, TAKAICHI, also called for domestic energy, including perovskite solar cells, to be important as energy security, and called for immediate implementation of measures, and we talked to Tetsuo KOMORIYA, the General Manager of  Renewable Energy Promotion/Development Sec., Basin Structural Dept., Land Infrastructure Div. and Chisato KAWAI, General Electricity Sec., Facility Engineering Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div. of PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, who are considering the introduction of solar panels to existing public infrastructure.

What does Carbon Neutrality for Roads mean?

The increasing frequency and severity of disasters caused by extreme weather, such as extreme heat, torrential rain, and forest fires, are threatening people's lives around the world. Steady implementation of measures aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is essential to curbing the progression of global warming, which is the underlying cause of these disasters. Efforts are also being made in the road sector, which accounts for approximately 18% of Japan's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the government revised the Road Act in April 2025 to include a "promotion of road decarbonization," which will come into effect in October 2025. We talked to Hiroyuki WADA, General Manager of Transportation Planning Dept., Social Innovation Div.; Sayo SAITO, Urban Mobility Sec. of the same department; and Nobuo TAKAHASHI, Road Promotion Sec., Road & Highway Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div., to find out what will be required of road administrators in the future.

<Mongolia> Data Collection Survey on Promoting Energy Transition

Mongolia, a signatory to Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, has set long-term goal for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is working to achieve it. However, given the country's abundant coal resources, it will be difficult to break away from its dependence on coal. JICA launched an Data Collection Survey Project in 2024 to determine what kind of assistance Japan could provide and to formulate guidelines. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS served as the prime partner of the joint venture responsible for the project, and Hironori KOBAYASHI of International Facilities Sec., Facility Engineering Dept., Transportation Infrastructure Div., worked on-site as an assistant to Project Manager.

Corporate's Climate Change Countermeasures

In recent years, extreme weather events such as extreme heat waves and torrential rains have been occurring frequently in many parts of the world, causing severe damage such as floods and landslides. These weather disasters are believed to be caused by global warming in addition to the effects of natural variability. It is "beyond doubt" ("IPCC 6th Report") that human activities have caused global warming mainly through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and how to reduce GHG emissions has become an important issue not only for governments and local public organizations but also for private companies and individual citizens. We interviewed three people who are involved in the formulation of guidelines for national climate change countermeasures and at the same time provide a wide range of support for local public organizations and corporate carbon neutrality, from strategic planning to on-site implementation: Kimiko KAJII, Chief Technical General Manager and General Project Manager of ESG Sustainable Smart City, Ryota II, General Manager of GX Promotion Dept., Social Innovation Div., and Keizo IKEDA, General Manager of Climate and Resources Policy Sec., who is also a member of this department of PACIFIC CONSULTANTS, about how companies should promote climate change countermeasures.

Why is it Regional Decarbonization Now? Toward Promotion of the Regional GX

In October 2020, the Japanese government declared its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 with zero emissions of greenhouse gas overall. A major key to achieving this goal is the "local area," where small and dispersed emission sources, such as small and medium-sized businesses and households, are concentrated. We asked Gen IKEMOTO of Social Innovation Div., GX Promotion Dept., Executive Consultant; Junichiro SAITO of Climate and Resources Policy Sec.; and Toru TSUNEOKA, also of Regional Decarbonization Sec., about how far regional decarbonization has progressed, what the challenges are, and how it should be promoted in the future.

How to Decarbonize Airports?

Efforts are underway in various fields to achieve carbon neutrality and a decarbonized society by 2050. Decarbonization of airports is one of these efforts, and decarbonization is urgently needed for airports, which serve as gateways to overseas destinations, in order to ensure their international competitiveness. However, there are many businesses at airports and a wide range of entities implementing initiatives, making it difficult to concretize and execute plans. We spoke to three people involved in the creation of the Ministry of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism 's Airport Decarbonization Promotion Plan Guidelines: Motohiro KIDO, General Manager of the Aviation Planning Sec., Aviation Dept. and Takahiro IMAMURA, who works in the same Section; and Yamashita DAIKI, General Manager of the Energy Business Development Support Sec., Green Social Strategy Dept. about the key points in achieving decarbonization of airports.

What is GX (Green Transformation)?

Efforts towards GX are accelerating in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We spoke with Kumiko KAJII, Chief Technical General Manager and General Project Manager of ESG Sustainable Smart City about what the national and local governments, private companies, and citizens should each do to promote this goal, as well as the current status and challenges of the initiative.

Towards a Transition to a Sustainable Society

Transitioning to a sustainable society has become a global issue. In this context, we feel the importance of responding to climate change and nature (natural capital and biodiversity), and we have been thinking about how we should further tackle the creation of a sustainable society.

<Part 2> Using "Municipal Power Producers and Suppliers (PPS)" as the Engine for Area Management

In the second part, we will explain the key points for introducing and operating Municipal Power Producers and Suppliers (PPS) and the future vision for Municipal Power Producers and Suppliers (PPS).

<Part 1> Using "Municipal Power Producers and Suppliers (PPS)" as the Engine for Area Management

What are the real benefits expected from establishing a Municipal Power Producers and Suppliers (PPS)? We will introduce the potential of a Municipal Power Producers and Suppliers (PPS) and the key points for establishing and operating it.