What is clean energy? Introducing types, benefits, and efforts by countries and companies

What is clean energy? Introducing types, benefits, and efforts by countries and companies

1. Whatiscleanenergy?Introducing
types,benefits,andeffortsby
countriesandcompanies
Haveyoueverheardtheterm"cleanenergy"?Manypeoplemaybewondering,"Itseems
kindofenvironmentallyfriendly,buthowisitdifferentfromotherformsofenergy?"
Inordertoprotecttheglobalenvironment,inadditionto"promotingenergyconservation",it
isimportantto"changetoenergywithreducedCO2emissions".InthisissueofYmedia,we
willtellyouaboutthebasicsofcleanenergythatyoumayormaynotknow,suchasthe
benefitsandtypesofcleanenergyintroduction,andtheeffortsofcountriesandcompanies.

2. Whatiscleanenergy?
Let'sstartbylookingatwhatcleanenergyis.Cleanenergyisenergythatdoesnotemit
greenhousegasessuchasCO2orthatemitsless.Itisalsocalled“naturalenergy”because
itisenergyderivedfromnaturesuchassunlight,wind,andgeothermalheat.
Whatisthedifferencebetweenclean
energyandrenewableenergy?
Awordsimilartocleanenergyis“renewableenergy”.Bothareenergieswithless
environmentalimpact,butwhatisthedifference?
Thethreemaincharacteristicsofrenewableenergyare:
1.Energyderivedfromnature
2.Doesnotemitgreenhousegases(reducesemissions)
3.Renewable
TheAgencyforNaturalResourcesandEnergyoftheMinistryofEconomy,Tradeand
Industrydefinesrenewableenergyasfollows.
energy,windpowerandothernon-fossilenergysourcesthatarerecognizedasperpetually
usableasanenergysourceandspecifiedbyagovernmentordinance."・Atmosphericheat
andotherheatandbiomassexistinginthenaturalworldarespecified.

3. “Itisenergyderivedfromnature”and“Itdoesnotemitgreenhousegases.”Thesetwopoints
arethesameascleanenergy.Inaddition,renewableenergyhasthecharacteristicofbeing
“renewable,”asthenamesuggests.Renewablemeansenergyproducedfromresources
thatcanberecoveredovertimeafterconsumption.
Bytheway,cleanenergyisalsogeneratedfromnaturalresourcessuchassunlightand
wind,sothereisnoconcernaboutdepletionlikefossilfuels.Althoughthereisnoclear
definition,itissafetoassumethat"cleanenergy"="apartofrenewableenergy."
Benefitsofcleanenergy
Whatkindofbenefitswilltheuseofcleanenergybringtoourlives?Here,wewillintroduce
themeritsofintroducingcleanenergyfromtwoperspectives:Japanasawholeand
companies.
AdvantagesofintroducingcleanenergyforJapanasawhole
First,let'sconsiderthebenefitsforJapanasawhole.Fossilfuelssuchasoilandcoalwill
eventuallyrunoutifwecontinuetousethem,butcleanenergycanbeusedindefinitely
becauseitusesnaturalresourcessuchassunlightandwind.Itisalsoeffectiveasa
countermeasureagainstglobalwarmingbecauseitdoesnotemitCO2whengenerating
energy.
AnotherfeatureofcleanenergyisthatitisdomesticenergythatcanbeproducedinJapan.
Japan'senergyself-sufficiencyratein2019is12.1%,whichislowerthanothercountries.
Oneofthereasonsforthisisthoughttobethelackofdomesticenergy.
Source:AgencyforNaturalResourcesandEnergy,MinistryofEconomy,Tradeand
Industry,“Japan’sEnergy2021Edition,10QuestionstoKnowabouttheCurrentStateof
Energy”
Iftheintroductionofcleanenergyspreads,energycanbeproducedandconsumed
domestically,andJapan'senergyself-sufficiencyratecanbeincreased.Theintroductionof

4. cleanenergywillbeagreatadvantageforJapan,whichreliesonimportsfromoverseasfor
mostofitsfossilfuels.
TheBenefitsofCleanEnergyfor
Business
Theintroductionofcleanenergyalsohasgreatbenefitsforcompanies.Oneistoimprove
thecorporateimage.Inrecentyears,ESGinvestment,whichinvestsincompaniesthat
considerthethreeelementsof"Environment,""Social,"and"Governance,"hasbecomea
trend.Theuseofcleanenergyfallsunderthecategoryof"environment"asa
countermeasureagainstglobalwarming,andisanappealingpointforESGinvestment.By
activelypromotingtheintroductionofcleanenergy,itisthoughtthatitwillcreatethe
impressionthat"Iwanttobuyfromthiscompany"and"Iwanttoworkforthiscompany",
whichwillleadtoanincreaseinsalesandemploymentofdiversehumanresources.I'm
here.
Anotheradvantageisthatself-sufficiencyinenergymakesitpossibletotake
countermeasuresintheeventofadisaster.Forexample,ifyouinstallaphotovoltaicpower
generationsystemontheroofofyouroffice,youcannotonlyusethegeneratedelectricityin
yourcompany,butyoucanalsocombineitwithastoragebatterytouseitasanemergency
powersupplyintheeventofanaturaldisastersuchasanearthquakeorapoweroutage.
increase.InJapan,whichispronetodisasters,havingapowersourcethatcanbeusedin
caseofemergencyshouldleadtogreatpeaceofmindforemployees.
typesofcleanenergy

5. Themaintypesofcleanenergypowergenerationare:
1.Photovoltaicpowergeneration
2.Windpowergeneration
3.Hydropowergeneration
4.Geothermalpowergeneration
5.Biomasspowergeneration
Typesofcleanenergy|1.Photovoltaic
powergeneration
Photovoltaicpowergenerationisapowergenerationmethodthatconvertsthelightenergy
ofthesundirectlyintoelectricalenergyusingsolarcells.Sinceitiseasiertoinstallthan
conventionalpowerplantsandcanbeinstalledinavarietyofplacessuchashomes,
schools,andbuildingroofs,itisbeingintroducedallovertheworld.Itisalsoattractivethatit
canbeusedasanemergencypowersupplyincombinationwithastoragebatteryinthe
eventofapoweroutageduetoanaturaldisaster.However,thereisaconstraintthatthe
amountofpowergenerationdependsontheamountofsolarradiation,soitisnecessaryto
combineitwithotherpowergenerationmethods.
Typesofcleanenergy|2.Windpower
generation
Windpowergenerationisapowergenerationmethodthatconvertswindenergyinto
electricalenergy.Windmillsarebuiltinplaceswherewindflows,suchasinmountainous
areasoralongthecoast,andtherotationalenergyisusedtogenerateelectricity.Unlike
solarpowergeneration,itcangenerateelectricityevenifthereisnosunlightaslongasitis
aplacewherethewindblows.Amongthecleanenergies,thecostofpowergenerationis
lowandtheamountofpowergeneratedislarge,soitisbeingintroducedaroundtheworld
asatrumpcardagainstglobalwarming.However,itcannotgenerateelectricityondays
whenthewinddoesnotblow,soitmustbecombinedwithotherpowergenerationmethods,
justlikesolarpowergeneration.
Typesofcleanenergy|3.Hydroelectric
powergeneration
Hydropowerisoneofthecleanenergysourceswithaparticularlylonghistory.Whenwater
storedinhighplacessuchasriversisdroppedtolowplaces,theenergyisconvertedinto

6. electricalenergytogenerateelectricity.Typesofpowergenerationincludethe"reservoir
type,"whichgeneratespowerbydroppingwaterfromadamthatdamsupriverwater,and
the"run-of-rivertype,"whichusesriverwaterasitis.InJapan,whichhasabundantwater
resources,powergenerationusinglarge-scaledamshasbeenpracticedforalongtime.
centeredontheconstructionofSinceastablewatersourceisrequiredtogeneratesufficient
power,itmustbecombinedwithotherpowergenerationmethods,similartosolarandwind
powergeneration.
Typesofcleanenergy|4.Geothermal
powergeneration
Geothermalpowergenerationusesthethermalenergyofundergroundmagmatoturn
turbineswiththepowerofsteamtogenerateelectricity.Therearetwotypesofpower
generation:theflashmethod,whichdirectlyusesundergroundsteam,andthebinary
method,whichusesheatfromhotspringsandhotspringwells.Ican.Asavolcaniccountry,
Japanisblessedwithgeothermalresources.Althoughthereareconstructioncostsand
issues,afterconstruction,itwillbepossibletogenerateelectricityregardlessoftheweather
andtime,justlikehydroelectricpowergeneration,andthepotentialforpowergenerationis
high,sotherearehighexpectationsforfuturetrends.
Typesofcleanenergy|5.Biomasspowergeneration
Biomasspowergenerationgenerateselectricitybydirectlyburningorgasifyingbiological
resourcesthatwouldotherwisehavebeenthrownaway,suchasconstructionwasteand
foodwaste.Therearevarioustypesofpowergeneration,suchas"directcombustion
method","pyrolysisgasificationmethod",and"biochemicalgasificationmethod",andthefuel
usedforpowergenerationisdifferent.CO2isemittedduringcombustion,butplantsabsorb
CO2throughphotosynthesisduringthegrowthprocess.Forthisreason,biomassresources
areconsideredacarbon-neutralfuelthatemitsvirtuallynoCO2.Biomassresourcesare
scatteredalloverJapan,sowhilecollectingandtransportingthemiscostly,thereisalsothe
viewthattheycancontributetolocalproductionandconsumptionofelectricityandregional
revitalization.

7. Cleanenergythatcanbeusedin
ordinaryhouseholds
Sofar,wehavetalkedaboutthebenefitsandtypesofcleanenergy.So,howshouldwe
procureelectricitytousecleanenergyathome?
Cleanenergythatcanbeusedin
ordinaryhomes|1.Switchingelectric
powercompanies
Itisawaytoswitchfromthecurrentpowercompanytoapowerretailcompanythatsupplies
electricityderivedfromcleanenergy.Youcaneasilyusecleanenergywithonecontract
withoutinstallinglarge-scalepowergenerationfacilities.Dependingonwhereyoulive,there
arecaseswherejointpurchasingcampaignsforelectricityarebeingcarriedout,soitisa
goodideatocheckthewebsiteofthelocalgovernmentinadvance.Thejointpurchaseof
electricityisanefforttogainanadvantageinpricenegotiationswithelectricpower
companiesbyattractingpeopleinterestedincleanenergytolocalhousesandstoresand
increasingthescaleofdemand.Ifyouregisterforparticipation,youwillbeabletoobtainthe
necessaryinformationanduseitasabasisfordecidingwhethertoswitchtocleanenergy.

8. Cleanenergythatcanbeusedin
ordinaryhomes|2.Installpower
generationequipment
Thisisamethodofinstallingpowergenerationequipmentderivedfromcleanenergyat
home.Themostpopularmethodistheinstallationofasolarpowersystem.Byinstalling
solarpanelsontheroofofyourhome,etc.,andconvertingDCpowerintoACpowerwitha
powerconditioner,youcangeneratetheelectricityyouneedin-house.Iftheamountof
powergeneratedexceedstheamountused,itispossibletosellthesurpluspowertothe
powercompany.
Effortstowardcleanenergyasa
country
Sinceitsrapideconomicgrowth,Japanhasreliedonfossilfuels,mainlypetroleum,formost
ofitsenergy.However,whentheoilshockoccurredinthe1970s,thepriceofoilsoared.
Japan,whichhadreliedonforeignoilforenergy,wasingreatturmoil,anddiversificationof
energysources,notrelyingonfossilfuels,wasrequired.Againstthisbackground,the
Japanesegovernmenthasshiftedtotheideaof​​usingacombinationofvariousenergy
sourcesratherthanrelyingonasingleenergysource.Thiswayofthinkingiscalledenergy
mix.
Inadditiontotheenergymix,3E+SisthebasicpolicyofJapan'senergypolicy.Thisis
basedonthepremiseofenergysafety,andaimstosimultaneouslyachieveenergysecurity,
economicefficiency,andenvironmentalcompatibility.Itiscalled3E+S.
Again,Japanreliesonimportsformostofitsfossilfuels.Therefore,ifthepriceofoilrisesin
anoil-producingcountry,Japaneseindustrywillbegreatlydamaged.Itisimportantto
increasetheproportionofdomesticallyproducedenergywithoutrelyingonimports.Thisis
stablesupply(EnergySecurity).Thereisalsoadisadvantagethatifthecostofenergyistoo
high,theelectricitybillwillbehigh.Therefore,economicefficiencyisalsoindispensable.
Anotherimportantpointistheenvironmentalcompatibility(Environment)thatreducesthe
loadontheglobalenvironment.
Thepremiseofthesethreepoliciesissafety.Thisistheideathatanaccidentwillnotcause
seriousdamage,andtheaccidentattheTokyoElectricPowerCompany'sFukushimaDaiichi
NuclearPowerStationin2011hastaughtusalesson.
Unfortunately,thereisnoperfectcleanenergythatsatisfiesallfourconditions,butby
combiningmultipleenergies,wecancomplementeachother'sweaknessesandextendour
strengths.

9. Here,weintroducetheeffortsoftheJapanesegovernmenttospreadcleanenergyand
realizeanenergymix.
Effortstowardcleanenergyasa
country|1.Feed-intariffsystem(FIT)
In2012,thefeed-intariffsystem(FIT)waslaunchedasasystemforthegovernmentto
subsidizetheintroductionofrenewableenergy,includingcleanenergy.Thisisasystemin
whichthegovernmentpromisesthatelectricpowercompanieswillpurchaseelectricity
generatedbyrenewableenergyatafixedpriceforafixedperiodoftime.Thetargetenergy
iseithersolar,wind,hydropower,geothermal,orbiomass,andabusinessplanthatsatisfies
therequirementssetbythegovernmentisformulatedandanewbusinessisstartedbased
ontheplan.Partofthepurchasecostiscoveredbyfundscollectedfromelectricityuserson
topofelectricitychargesunderthenameoflevy.Asaresult,theprospectofrecoveringthe
constructioncostsofpowergenerationfacilitiesbecameclear,andrenewableenergyspread
rapidly.
Effortstowardcleanenergyasa
country|2.Fullliberalizationofthe
electricityretailmarket
Untilnow,electricityforhouseholdsandbusinessescouldonlybepurchasedfrompower
companiesdesignatedbyeachregion.Itisnowpossibletofreelychoosewhichcompanyto
purchasefrom.
Currently,variouselectricpowercompaniesandretailelectricpowercompaniesare
developingtheirownservicesandrateplans.Oneofthebenefitsofthefullliberalizationof
theelectricityretailmarketisthatithasbecomepossibletopurchaseelectricityfromelectric
powercompaniesthatmainlygenerateelectricityfromcleanenergysourcessuchassolar,
wind,hydro,andgeothermal.
Yanmar'sapproachtocleanenergy
Effortstospreadcleanenergyarespreadingnotonlyincountriesbutalsoincompanies
aroundtheworld.Yanmar,whichupholdsthephilosophyof"ASUSTAINABLEFUTURE,"is
alsoworkingtointroduceapowergenerationsystemthatutilizescleanenergy.

10. Yanmar'sapproachtocleanenergy|1.
Officesusingcleanenergy
YanmarHeadquarters"YANMARFLYING-YBUILDING"islocatedjustoutsideHankyu
UmedaStationinthedirectionofChayamachi.Avarietyofenergy-savingand
energy-creatingtechnologies,suchassolarpowergeneration,gasheatpumpair
conditioners,andgascogenerationsystems,havebeenadoptedwithinthebuildingto
activelyreduceCO2emissions,resultinginazero-CO2emissionenvironment.・Weaimto
realizeabuilding(ZEB).
Let'susecleanenergytodecarbonize
electricity｜Summary
Inordertoprotecttheglobalenvironment,wemustreduceCO₂emissionsinthe
atmosphere.Thefirststepistoswitchfromconventionalfossilfuelstocleanenergythatis
friendlytotheglobalenvironment.
Therearevarioustypesofcleanenergy,suchassolarpower,windpower,hydropower,
geothermalpower,andbiomasspower,andeachhasadvantagesanddisadvantages.In
Japan,whereenergyresourcesarescarce,variousenergysourcesarebeingdeveloped
basedonthe3E+SperspectivesofSafety,EnergySecurity,EconomicEfficiency,and
Environment,whichwereintroducedearlier.Thereisaneedtorealizeanenergymixthat
bringsoutthestrengthsofeachenergysourceinawell-balancedmanner.

11. Cleanenergy,whichwassaidtobeexpensiveanddifficulttointroduceingeneral
households,ischangingitsdirectionduetotheFeed-inTariff(FIT)systemandthefull
liberalizationoftheelectricityretailmarket.Itcanbesaidthatwehaveenteredanerain
whichelectricitycanbeselectedaccordingtolifestylesandvalues.
YmediawillcontinuetocommunicateYanmar'seffortstorealize"ASUSTAINABLE
FUTURE".AsstatedinGoal7oftheSDGs,“Affordableandcleanenergy,”whynotthink
aboutwhatwecandotorealizeasustainablesociety?