Do - not all countries are keen on Climate Change at the Ceatec Trade Show in Tokyo. Climate Change Conference of Parties, or COP 26, coming up at the end of this month, are the latest technologies growing in appeal.
The annual Tech Expo officially kicked off on Tuesday. Over 300 companies are exhibiting their latest products and services during the next four days. Due to COVID -19, the Expo is completely online for the second year in a row.
Many participating companies have taken the online platform as an opportunity to introduce sustainability initiatives, especially those related to carbon neutrality.
Takenaka Corp., a major Japanese contractor that has been around since 1610, is offering a glimpse into its decarbonization efforts, which focus on hydrogen.
In a video, Takenaka described its hydrogen energy demonstration tests and said it is ready to use what it has learned for expansion of its business.
The company seeks to reduce energy consumption by installing compact hydrogen stations or dispensers in commercial units in urban areas.
Toshiba, Sharp and other big brands are presenting technologies that can support the transition to renewable energy.
Toshiba displays next generation solar cells, including a perovskite PV module based on a polymer film. President and CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa said during an opening event that the panel's flexibility and lightweight design make it possible for the module to be used in new locations such as office windows and roofs with weak strength. It is a 15% power conversion rate with 27.1% efficiency rates.
Sharp promoted its self-consumption business, a service that lets consumers generate their own energy. In an effort to accelerate the use of renewables, the electronics maker will install solar power systems with a low initial investment cost on newly constructed homes and large factories.
Huawei Japan unveiled iSitePower, a solar and battery technology intended to provide electricity in remote areas. It also introduced a small-scale hybrid power solution designed for homes, stores and other spaces that lack access to commercial or stable power supplies. The system functions as an invertible power supply.
Companies are increasingly vulnerable to climate change as extreme weather, supply chain disruptions and other potential consequences put their businesses at risk. Consumers and investors, meanwhile, consider companies' ESG environmental, social and governance practices when making decisions.
It is time for more discussions on climate change, and many countries are taking steps to address it. The main focus of discussion at COP 26, which will be held in Glasgow, will be countries' efforts to reduce their carbon emissions.
In Japan, the government has set an ambitious 2030 plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% from 2013 levels, mainly by pushing renewables. According to McKinsey Company, Japan is the sixth largest emitter of greenhouse gas emission, after China, U.S., India and Russia. Most of Japan's emissions come from the power sector, industries, transportation and buildings.
Ceatec's Industry Research Department held a Ceatec conference about how Japanese IT and electronics companies should behave in a carbon neutral era.
Kokoro Yamaguchi from the bank's telecom, media and technology team (CRO) noted that companies have the potential to drive growth by offering solutions to control greenhouse gas emissions or systems that manage energy consumption, or by creating carbon neutrality-related business units.
However, companies must also work toward reducing their carbon footprint throughout the entire supply chain, he said. Companies might even need to consider modifying their business models as failure to reduce carbon dioxide emissions could result in companies being weeded out by competitors.