Kumamoto Prefecture (Kumamoto Pref.), Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI) have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop new energy and environmental business.

 

The collaboration and cooperation between the three parties target a wide range of areas such as photovoltaic (PV) power generation in Kumamoto Pref., enhancement of battery charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and motorcycles, and private-sector initiatives in water and environment business, all aimed at achieving a low-carbon society, developing related industries in Kumamoto Pref., and enhancing regional revitalization.

 

[Objective]

Kumamoto Pref. intends to develop PV business into a core industry along with the semiconductor and automobile industries. As an environmentally advanced prefecture, in order to establish a sustainable social system based on next-generation energy, Kumamoto Pref. will promote verification tests in a wide range of new energy and environmental businesses through private-sector initiatives, and aims to establish a system which will be a leading model in Japan.

 

The three parties will cooperate to realize grass-roots solar projects based on this MoU.

 

Kumamoto Pref. has the following targets in its “Dream of Kumamoto Four-Year Strategy” to establish itself as the prefecture with the highest proliferation of PV systems in Japan, which this MoU is expected to help make possible.

 

<Target Indicators>

･Residential PV System Installation		FY2008   3.32% (Ranked 3rd in Japan)
	Target	FY2011   5.75% (Ranked 1st in Japan)
･Capacity of PV Systems in Kumamoto Pref.		March 2008   57.67MW
	Target	March 2012   116.00MW (Twofold)
･PV Related Industry in Kumamoto Pref.	Target	Delivered Products JPY 100 billion Employment 1,000 people

 

MC established its Global Environment Business Development Group on April 1^st to enhance business development and build profit models for new energy, power generation, environmental and water business. The aim is to develop these businesses into next-generation pillars. With the newly established Group at the core, and through cooperation with related departments, MC intends to promote advanced business development and management models with Kumamoto Pref. and MRI in the areas described in the MoU.

 

MRI carries out research and consulting to manage environmental issues as well as natural resource and energy restrictions, and intends to pursue business development and management models that will benefit both the local government and private companies in relation to this MoU. Furthermore, MRI aims to plan and propose new systems, evaluate various technologies, test and implement advanced businesses, and support commercialization of potential technologies through business planning.