No. 366: Use energy-saving technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in manufacturing (November 30, 2011)

Several Japanese companies are trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions using energy-saving technology. Fujifilm focused attention on the steam discharged to the air in the manufacturing process and developed a system to heat the wind for drying films by reusing the heat of steam generated in the production of deflecting plate protective films. The system will be introduced into its six plants across the country by next September to reduce additional 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2013. Nissan Motor will dispatch its special team for energy saving to the plants around the world. The team studies energy input and consumption of each equipment and formulate measures to eliminate wastes like leaking heat. The company wishes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per vehicle by 20% from the level in 2005.

Steel companies including Nippon Steel have been trying to upgrade their state-of-the-art iron-making technology. JFE Steel, for example, has been doing experiments to separate and collect carbon dioxide in the test plant “ASCOA-3.” The company wishes to establish a technology to eliminate carbon dioxide contained in the gas coming out from the furnace using absorbent. It previously cost 4,000 yen to eliminate one ton of carbon dioxide, but the company successfully reduced the cost to 2,500 yen by improving the materials of absorbent. Although it is necessary to reduce the cost to 2,000 yen to make the technology applicable, but the target is expected to be achieved in the near future. Besides reducing carbon dioxide emissions, steel companies are developing a technology to increase the efficiency of chemical reactions in the manufacturing process with a view to reducing the emissions by 30%. The Japanese government plans to promote bilateral credit in exchange for providing energy-saving technology to foreign countries.