Press Release

July 12, 2021
  • Global Environment

MOEJ selected 6 decarbonization projects to be offered subsidies (third supplementary budget for FY 2020)

(July 12, 2021, Tokyo) The Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), announced that the Regional Circular and Ecological Society Promotion Association, commissioned by MOEJ through the third supplementary budget for fiscal year 2020, selected 6 decarbonization projects, to create regional circular and ecological areas through decarbonization innovations.

"Projects to create regional circular and ecological areas through decarbonization innovations" aim at creating decarbonization leading areas. The projects' theme is "independent and decentralized local energy systems and decarbonized transportation." The project appropriately incorporates technological and institutional innovations, and continuously supports implementation efforts for model projects with funding from the private sector.

MOEJ called for the following three kinds of projects to be subsidized:

  1. Project to support the creation of an independent and decentralized local energy system to improve local self-sufficiency in renewable energy and strengthen resilience

  2. Project to support the creation of a decarbonized regional transportation model by utilizing automobile CASE (Connected Autonomous Shared Electric)

  3. Project to promote circular economy and regional revitalization by recovering heat from hot springs.

KATO Sei, Director, Climate Change Policy Division, Global Environment Bureau:

MOEJ selected 6 projects, including the utilization of renewable energy. These are important projects for building a carbon-neutral and regional circular and ecological areas (local SDGs), and some of them will also lead to the reconstruction of Fukushima. MOEJ considers a wide variety of ideas and contributes to the decarbonization of local areas.

KITAHASHI Yoshiaki, Director, Office for Conservation and Promotion of Hot Springs, Park Facilities Division:

MOEJ supports the introduction of energy-saving equipment at the time of renewal of hot spring supply facilities by hot spring suppliers and promotes further decarbonization measures in hot spring areas.

There are many hot spring areas in Japan. It is important to reduce CO2 emissions by increasing the efficiency of hot spring supply facilities. MOEJ will make efforts to build environmentally friendly hot spring areas and strengthen their promotion.

Overview of the 6 selected projects:

  1. Project to support the creation of an independent and decentralized local energy system to improve local self-sufficiency in renewable energy and strengthen resilience. (Plan formulation)

Organization Name

Place of implementation

① Okuma-cho, Fukushima Pref.

Okuma-cho, Fukushima Pref.

② Oki-machi, Fukuoka Pref.

Oki-machi, Mizuma-gun, Fukuoka Pref.

Okuma-cho (town), Fukushima Pref. plans to:

  • Achieve a 50% ratio of micro grid and solar power by 2024.

  • Build, by 2030, a "Zero Carbon Town" and "RE 100 Factories" powered by renewable energy.

  • Produce hydrogen from surplus solar energy and biomass by 2040.

Oki-machi (town), Fukuoka Pref. plans to:

  • Examine and decide the installation of solar power facilities (1,450 kW), self-operation lines (1,200 m), storage batteries (2,500 kWh), EV charging equipment, and EMS (Environment Management System).

  • Have all public facilities powered by 100% renewable energy by 2030, by utilizing the above facilities and equipment.

  • Build solar power facilities on rooftops, parking lots, and idle lands. Self-operation lines are also planned to be buried.

  1. Project to support the creation of a decarbonized regional transportation model by utilizing automobile CASE (Connected Autonomous Shared Electric). (Installation of equipment)

Organization Name

Place of implementation

③ Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.

JTB Corp., Tochigi Pref., ORIX Auto Corporation, JTB Communication Design, Inc., Toyota Tochigi Rental & Leasing Co., Ltd.

Nikko-shi, Tochigi Pref.

This group plans to:

  • Position Nikko City, one of the prefecture's leading tourist destinations, as an advanced model region for decarbonization, with the promotion of automobile CASE and the use of renewable energy at its core.

  • Form an virtuous cycle of branding as an environmentally friendly tourist destination, both tackling climate change and promoting tourism.

  1. Project to promote CO2 emission reductions by improving the efficiency of hot spring supply facilities. (Project planning)

Organization Name

Place of implementation

④ Izu-Nagaoka Onsen Business Cooperative Association

Izunokuni-shi, Shizuoka Pref.

This project will formulate plans for high-efficiency renovation projects when upgrading hot spring supply facilities.

  1. Project to promote CO2 emission reductions by improving the efficiency of hot spring supply facilities (Installation of equipment)

Organization Name

Place of implementation

⑤ Rausu-cho, Hokkaido

Rausu-cho, Menashi-gun, Hokkaido

⑥ Kijo-cho, Miyazaki Pref.

Kijo-cho, Koyu-gun, Miyazaki Pref.

The organizations will install equipment to reduce CO2 emissions by increasing the efficiency of its hot spring supply facilities.

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