Efforts to Achieve a Low-carbon Society

Efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions at manufacturing sites

In working toward realizing a low-carbon society, the Group has set the goal of realizing carbon neutrality by FY2030 at our manufacturing sites as part of its long-term environmental targets called Hitachi Environmental Innovation 2050.

Measures to reduce CO₂ emissions include installing energy-saving and renewable energy equipment and purchasing electricity from renewable sources, renewable power, renewable energy certificates, and credits for neutralization (environmental value obtained by removing carbon from the atmosphere).

Priority will be given to promoting the installation of equipment for energy-saving and renewable energy with additionality, with the goal of reducing more than 50% of our CO₂ emission in FY2030 through these measures.

Activity results

In FY2022, through steady implementation of measures such as solar power systems and energy-saving equipment (LED lighting, etc.), and the introduction of electric forklift trucks, we achieved a 82.6% reduction in CO₂ emissions, compared to our target of 82.0% of the base year FY2010 level.

* CO₂ emissions from manufacturing sites (Scope 1 and 2)
・Scope 1: Direct emissions from in-house fuel use and industrial processes
・Scope 2: Indirect emissions from production of electricity and heat purchased by the company
* CO₂ electrical power conversion factors: We used adjusted conversion factors for individual power businesses based on the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures.

CO₂ emissions at manufacturing sites

Efforts to Reduce CO₂ Emissions During the Use of Products and Services

To achieve a low-carbon society, the Group has set the reduction of CO₂ emissions during the use of products and services and is promoting development and dissemination of its products and services.

The calculation of CO₂ emission reductions is based on the Guidelines on Calculating CO₂ Emission Reductions for Hitachi Group Products and Services, and is calculated for the reduction of CO₂ emissions from products through efficiency enhancements such as energy-saving feature enhancement in products and the avoided emissions as reductions in CO₂ emissions through the introduction of new systems and solutions.

When calculating CO₂ emissions reductions from efficiency enhancements in products, the evaluation is made by comparing models with comparable product features, such as volume of refrigerator and washing capacity of washers, in order to achieve a balance between efficiency enhancement and feature improvement.

In calculating CO₂ emissions reductions from new systems and solutions, we have calculated the CO₂ reductions resulting from the diffusion of new systems and solutions that emit less CO₂ while providing equivalent value to existing services through new technologies such as IoT.

Activity results

In FY2022, we targeted a 31.8% reduction of CO₂ emissions per unit compared to the base year of FY2010. However, the reduction rate we achieved was only 25.6% because the production volume of some products did not meet the target.

Reduction rate of CO₂ emissions of products and services

*1 Sum of the amount of CO₂ emissions before adopting solutions and services and the amount of CO₂ emissions based on the assumption that a required number of units which corresponds to that of the product from the assessment fiscal year were used for the whole lifetime.
*2 Of the main product functions, those relevant to CO₂ emissions

Topic 1: Introduce Renewable Energy

Hitachi Group is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality at our manufacturing sites by FY2030.

Our company has also been promoting various initiatives, and has already introduced solar power systems at some of our sales offices. To introduce these to our manufacturing sites, we installed solar power systems with PPA model*1 at the Tochigi Plant, which manufactures refrigerators and other products, and started its operation on July 1, 2022.

The Tochigi Plant is expected to have a power generating capacity of 60 kW and an annual energy production of approximately 115 MWh, resulting in a reduction of approximately 50 tons of CO₂ emissions per year. Furthermore, in addition to expanding the installation of solar power systems at the Tochigi Plant in the future, we are also working on installing it at the Taga Plant, which manufactures washers and cleaners. The total power generating capacity of these two sites is targeted to be approximately 3,000 kW by 2030.

In October of the same year, all the electricity for the lighting and AC of our headquarters was switched to power from renewable energy sources. This is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by about 660 tons/year*2.

We will continue to work toward the goal of reducing more than 50% of CO₂ emission through measures such as the introduction and expansion of renewable energy and promoting energy conservation measures. We will also consider introducing an energy storage system.

*1 PPA model stands for Power Purchase Agreement.
*2 Calculated from annual electric consumption of 2021, before switching to renewable energy.

Topic 2: Improve Energy Use Efficiency by Installing Energy-Saving Equipment

In order to reduce CO₂ emissions in the production process, we are systematically introducing and updating energy-saving equipment such as LED lighting and inverter air conditioners at individual manufacturing sites to improve the energy use efficiency of lighting and equipment.

Hitachi Group has been introducing our Hitachi Internal Carbon Pricing System*1 since 2019 to promote CO₂ reductions from our factories and offices.

At the Tochigi and Taga Plants, which are our manufacturing sites, we are actively working to reduce CO₂ emissions by introducing energy-saving equipment through the use of the Internal Carbon Pricing System.

*1 An in-house tool for assessing in monetary terms the amount of carbon generated or reduced in order to voluntarily makeinvestment decisions and conduct risk management.

4.8t crane

LED lighting fixtures for high ceilings

Topic 3: Introduction of Electric Forklift Trucks

Topic 4: “exiida Remote Monitoring and Predictive Diagnosis” Corresponding to the Act on Rational Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbons

The “exiida Remote Monitoring and Predictive Diagnosis” our company offers can be used as an alternative to the simple inspection of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for business use*1 as required by the Act on Rational Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbons.

With the revision of this Act*2, which came into effect August 2022, a constant monitoring system of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for business use is positioned as an alternative to the simple visual inspections that have been conducted in the past. This contributes to reducing the workload.

The Act on Rational Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbonsrequires a simple inspection at least once every three months to prevent leakage of fluorocarbon gas, which is used as a coolant in refrigeration and air conditioning

equipment for business use. Therefore, the supervisor (customer and person in charge of equipment management) must visually inspect the equipment and record and preserve the inspection. In case of violation, the supervisor will be penalized.

Our company's “exiida Remote Monitoring and Predictive Diagnosis” is a constant monitoring system that provides new value to customers by accumulating operating data (refrigerant pressure, temperature, current values, etc.) collected from refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for business use and applies AI to perform highly accurate diagnostics. It supports stable operation of equipment by detecting changes that may lead to failures.

*1 This refers to Class I specified products as defined in the Act on Rational Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbons.
*2 Partial amendment to Article 16, Paragraph 1 of the Act on Rational Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbons(Act No. 64 of 2001).

System overview of exiida Remote Monitoring and Predictive Diagnosis

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