June 16, 2011
Keywords: Local government Policy / Systems Renewable Energy
The Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI Hokkaido) announced in March 2011 that it has issued its first green snow/ice energy certificates to five facilities in Hokkaido for their use of snow/ice energy. Wintertime snow and ice energy is utilized to cool agricultural products and for residential air-conditioning in summer.
METI Hokkaido started issuing green snow/ice energy certificate in January 2011. The facilities calculate the amount of cryogenic energy produced, and they receive a certificate for that amount. Other enterprises then purchase the value of the certified green energy, which covers the maintenance costs of facilities and equipment utilizing snow/ice energy.
To date, 140 facilities in Japan, mostly located in northern Japan and areas along the Sea of Japan, are promoting the use of snow/ice energy. The five recipients of the certificates are; four facilities in Numata Town, Hokkaido, including a lifelong learning center and a strawberry hothouse at an on-the-job training farm; and an ice house equipped with a precooler in Biratori Town, Hokkaido.
According to a questionnaire targeting public-listed companies all over Japan, 48.7 percent of the enterprises indicated that they are interested in green snow/ice energy certificates. METI Hokkaido held a seminar on snow/ice energy in Tokyo in March, with the aim to promote further use of the energy.
'Green Heat' Certificate System Being Developed in Hokkaido (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/028645.html
METI Hokkaido Promoting Use of Alternative Energy Sources for Air Conditioning (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/027182.html
Posted: 2011/06/16 06:00:15 AM
METI Hokkaido official website
http://www.hkd.meti.go.jp/index_e.htm