Smart Community Project in Kitakyushu (Japan)

The Clean Energy Solutions Center, in partnership with the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN), hosted this webinar-based training on the Kitakyushu Smart Community Project. Webinar panelists provide an overview of the project, discussed key findings, and addressed questions from the audience

Sketching a vision of the optimum form for community energy management, the Kitakyushu Smart Community Project seeks to create the appropriate social structures for a low-carbon society by innovating lifestyles, business styles and urban planning styles. By creating and operating a customer energy management system called Smart Community Center or the Community “Setsuden-sho,” the project aims to establish mechanisms for citizens and companies to think about and participate in the process of energy distribution. One of the project’s guiding principles is that making energy use visible can encourage changes in lifestyles and business styles.

Additional initiatives of the project include preparing for the large-scale introduction of next-generation vehicles and linking them with public transport. Due to the establishment of environmental facilities and the introduction of a range of new energy sources, the Higashida area within the City of Kitakyushu already emits 30% less CO2 than other areas in the city. The outcomes of the operational experiments in the Higashida area will be extended to other areas of the City of Kitakyushu—for example, the Jono district in Kokurakita ward (approximately 20 km2 in area), which is being newly developed—and from there to the rest of Japan and the world.

Panelists

Yosuke Nakanishi, Senior Chief Expert, Corporate R&D Headquarter, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Presentation
Yosuke Nakanishi received the degree of B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Waseda University and Ph.D. from Tokyo Metropolitan University in 1978, 1980 and 1996 respectively. He joined Fuji Electric Co. in 1980 and is currently working as Senior Chief Expert, Corporate R&D Headquarter, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. He is a Visiting professor of Waseda University. His research interests include simulation and analysis of power systems and distribution power systems. He received a Prize Paper Award from IEEE Power Engineering Education committee 1991. He is a senior member of the IEE of Japan, a member of IEEE and a member of CIGRE.

Yasuhiro Sakuma, Senior Assistant Director, International Affairs Office, Energy Conservation and New Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Presentation
Mr. Yasuhiro Sakuma is Senior Assistant Director of the International Affairs Office, Energy Conservation and New Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). In this capacity, he has been in charge of the international cooperation in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency including the management of the bilateral meetings between Japanese government/industries and those in European region. His assignment also covers the international conferences in the International Energy Agency (IEA). He has presented on the Working Party on Renewable Energy Technologies (REWP) and the Implementing Agreements (IA) on renewable energy, including the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN), as a representative of Japan. Prior to joining the ANRE, he was involved in the management of the collaborative joint works and technical cooperation activities with regard to standardization and conformity assessment policy including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) between Japanese government/industries and those in Asia-Pacific region.

Takao Ikeda, Senior Economist, New and Renewable Energy Group, New and Renewable Energy and International Cooperation Unit, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan

Takao Ikeda received the degrees of B.Eng. and M.Eng. from Kyoto University. He joined the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan in 2002 and is currently working as Senior Economist, New and Renewable Energy Group, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan. He is conducting renewable energy policy research. He has planned and conducted more than 20 seminars and workshops on renewable energy topics, including Japanese smart community demonstration projects .