We are promoting energy conservation activities centered on petrochemical plants, which account for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) promotes unit energy conservation activities with the goal of cutting its own unit energy consumption by at least 20% (relative to fiscal 1990) by fiscal 20101in its APTSIS 10 mid-term management plan.
At the MCC Mizushima Plant, a project team was assembled to come up with innovative energy conservation ideas to reduce petrochemical plant CO2 emissions. In fiscal 2008, there were roughly 20 ideas, including the idea to reuse heat waste for heating, which would contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions by approximately 60,000 metric tons. In fiscal 2009, we will begin deliberating the implementation of these ideas while conducting similar activities at other plants.
In fiscal 2008, the global recession caused a significant decrease in production, which lowered the operational efficiency of our plants and worsened unit energy consumption by 12% compared to fiscal 2007. In terms of the amount of energy used, the enhanced steam trap management, reuse of heat waste and use of pump and blower inverters achieved 36,000kl of crude oil equivalent energy efficiency, resulting in a reduction of 179,000kl of crude oil equivalency compared to the previous fiscal year. In terms of CO2 emissions, MCC (non-consolidated) emissions totaled 7610,000 metric tons, a reduction of 510,000 metric tons compared to fiscal 2007 and a 20% reduction compared to fiscal 1990 levels. Overall group emissions were reduced by 6.4% compared to the previous fiscal year.
Going forward, in addition to reducing unit energy consumption, The Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Group (MCC Group) will focus its efforts on the development and manufacture of products that contribute to energy conservation as well as further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across the entire Group to contributing to an overall reduction in the amount of CO2 emissions in society.
Tatsuya Tada
Oil Operation and Control Section Production Department I Mizushima Plant Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
The project involved understanding bottlenecks through pinch analysis1 assessing the cost required for improvements, and feasibility evaluation that took process constraints into consideration. After participating in the project, I looked at the plant in an entirely different way. I now pay attention to temperature differences in key areas, think about the ways in which exhaust heat was used and am more aware of CO2 emissions reduction in my daily activities. I am inspired to formulate my own ideas on how to further reduce CO2 emissions.
Fins added to ships to increase fuel efficiency
As a specified business operator designated in the Revised Act on the Rational Use of Energy implemented in April 2006, MCC submits energy consumption results and an energy conservation plan to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry each year. As directed in the act, MCC is also working to achieve the objective of reducing energy consumption units by 1% annually in the medium- to long-term through initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions with its main logistics contractor Mitsubishi Chemical Logistics.
As a result of increasing lot volumes shipped by vessel and tank truck in fiscal 2007, unit energy consumption declined by 2.6%, a major improvement compared to fiscal 2006.
In addition to continuing measures from the previous fiscal year in fiscal 2008, we added fins to ships in an attempt to increase fuel efficiency (averaging a 5% improvement in fuel efficiency). Despite executing various measures including the installation of on-board terminals and eco-tires on trucks to promote environmentally friendly driving, transport load efficiency declined as a result of our significantly decreased sales volume, resulting in only a 0.2% improvement in unit energy consumption compared to last year.
Using fiscal 2006 as the base year, the average reduction in unit energy consumption over the past two years was 1.4% per year, and in compliance with the act, which requires a 1% annual reduction. In fiscal 2009 we are targeting further reductions in energy consumption by continuing existing initiatives as well as through the formulation and implementation of new initiatives.
Shigeto Tsukamoto
Chugoku Branch Manager
RYOKA LOGITECH CORPORATION
In January 2009, Digi-Tacho2 was introduced to promote safe driving management and environmentally friendly driving. Despite initial operating difficulties, the system uses data to provide a visual safe driving assessment for individuals and groups of drivers. With the introduction of a reward scheme that fostered healthy competition, fuel efficiency increased by 8% in the first six months. Although some drivers felt uncomfortable with the monitoring of their driving, as the amount of data increases the initiative is expected to contribute to both safety and the environment.
Using green electricity at the head office building
Since January 2008, MCC has been actively involved in the office and home environmental impact reduction activities promoted by the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation Group (MCHC Group).
In fiscal 2008, "Cool Biz" measures with steps like switching off of lights at lunchtime, more efficient use of air conditioning at the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC) head office resulted in a 9% reduction in power consumption compared to the previous year (35% with the addition of green electricity procurement) throughout the entire building.
In terms of initiatives in the home, all MCHC Group employees were asked to begin keeping home environmental accounting records3 As a result, 1,800 MCC Group families and 2,500 MCHC Group families are participating in these initiatives.
