Hitachi High-Tech Group is promoting systematic activities to reduce energy-induced CO2 emissions as a response to climate change. Specifically, we are making efforts to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the value chain through ongoing efforts such as use of renewable energy, promotion of environmental investment, improvement of manufacturing processes, and environmentally conscious design, aiming at the creation of a decarbonized society.
In order to enhance the credibility of this report, FY2020 figures marked with have received independent assurance from SOCOTEC Certification Japan Co., Ltd. in accordance with the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 and ISO14064-3.
Approximately 97% of the energy used in Hitachi High-Tech Group business activities both inside and outside Japan is electric power. In order to more efficiently reduce CO2 emissions, we have assigned top priority to switching over to renewable energy, with the aim of achieving zero CO2 emissions by FY2030. Going forward, we will promote this as a global activity to include CO2 reduction at sites in other countries.
Scope 2 emissions were reduced to zero by switching over to renewable energy sources for electric power and making active use of renewable energy value at the Hitachi High-Tech head office (April 2020), at Hitachi High-Tech Fine Systems (April 2020), at the Hitachi High-Tech Manufacturing & Service Corp. head office (April 2020) and No. 6 Works (May 2020), at the Hitachi High-Tech Science Fuji Oyama Works (April 2020), at Hitachi High-Tech Kyushu (February 2019), and at Hitachi High-Tech Solutions Mito Works (June 2021). Also, in March 2021, we constructed a semiconductor manufacturing equipment
manufacturing site "Naka-Marine Site" in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and it uses renewable energy power and emits zero CO2 since its completion,.
Meanwhile, five of our sites in other countries have been supplied with renewable electricity from hydroelectric power generation, and we will continue to expand the utilization of renewable energy in the future.
At the Hitachi High-Tech Group, fuel is consumed by cargo handling equipment at manufacturing sites and by commercial vehicle operations. In order to realize a decarbonized low-carbon society, we are promoting the switch to electric power for cargo handling equipment and to EV and hybrid models for company vehicles. Our aim is to achieve zero CO2 emissions by FY2030.
Hitachi High-Tech Fine Systems Corporation and Fuji Oyama Works of Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation used offset credits to achieve zero emission in Scope 1 in FY2020.
Hitachi High-Tech Corporation Head Office, Hitachi High-Tech Fine Systems Corporation, Fuji Oyama Works of Hitachi High-Tech Science Corporation, Hitachi High-Tech Kyushu Corporation, and Naka-Marine Site have achieved carbon neutrality through initiatives such as switching to renewable energy power, utilizing renewable energy values and offset credits, and using EVs in vehicles.
We continue our efforts on a global basis and aim to achieve carbon neutrality at all Hitachi High-Tech Group sites by FY2030.
Hitachi High-Tech Group established the Environmental Investment Guidelines in FY2016 to improve the ease and efficiency of environmental investment. Since the investments made in FY2017, these guidelines have contributed to the growth of environmental investment and improvement in the reduction effect in the amount of electricity consumed versus investment. In FY2020, the amount of environmental investment declined 39% versus the previous fiscal year, but the reduction effect in electricity consumption versus investment amount was 2.6 times than that of the previous year. We are shifting to investments in initiatives with high cost-effectiveness. In addition, while we are promoting the introduction of an Internal Carbon Pricing system from FY2019 to further promote environmental investment, because of progress in reducing CO2 emissions through the use of renewable energy and other sources, we have also started to consider new KPIs from FY2020, mainly focusing on reducing energy procurement costs. As the carbon pricing has been completed, we plan to finalize the new KPIs and the investment criteria under review and start applying them to investments in FY2022 and beyond.
We are also actively working to conserve energy in conjunction with our rationalization of manufacturing processes.
At the Hitachi High-Tech Group, we have worked to introduce LED floor lighting in offices and communal areas, etc.
In addition, we are replacing transformers and air-conditioning units with highly efficient equipment, and improving manufacturing processes, at our manufacturing sites.
Item | Measure |
---|---|
Renewable energy | Installation of solar panels on building rooftops |
Air Conditioning System | Improvement in air conditioner operation mode for clean rooms (Adjustment of the control accuracy for holidays and nighttime, discrete control of cleanliness for each compartment) Installation of controllers of the energy-saving type in air conditioner Installation of hybrid fans Installation of underfloor air conditioning systems Installation of watering system to exterior unit |
Air Conditioning and Power utilization efficiency | Less power loss through installation of phase advance capacitors Installation of super-amorphous transformers Installation of automatic power factor regulators Reduction in current-on durations of products |
Various equipment and facilities | Installation of air conditioner compressors controlled by the number of air conditioner units in operation Installation of inverter-controlled cooling water supply equipment |
Lighting | Installation of a system for automatic selection of illuminance Installation of lights for automatic detecting the presence of persons Installation of LED lights Installation of inverter ballasts with luminaires Fewer lights are lit and unnecessary lights are turned off when not needed. |
Building | Laying double roofs Implementation of thermal barrier coating |
Enlightenment activity | Handbills are distributed and signboards are installed in energy-saving months. Cool Biz and Warm Biz “Green” walls on building windows and walls |
In FY2020 our annual amount of CO2 emission was 31,688 tons, against our target of 41,900 tons. This achievement was influenced by greater than planned progress in switching over to renewable energy sources for the electric power used as well continuous promotion of environmental investment and other such factors.
Based on these results, we will continue taking initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions and to save energy by installing equipment and facilities of an energy-saving type, by efficiently using energy, and by generating renewable energy.
We have been instituting measures to support TCFD since we began studies of it in FY2018. We established a working group (the TCFD Study Group) under the Sustainability Promotion Committee in November 2020, and we will continue promoting the identification of specific climate change risks and opportunities, the study of measures to address them, and related activities, in every segment of the Hitachi High-Tech Group by September 2021. We will continue actively promoting specific initiatives for management strategy and risk management addressing climate-related risks, in particular.
In FY2021, we will disclose the climate-related information obtained through these measures, in accordance with the recommendations by TCFD. In engaging in disclosure as a member of the Hitachi Group, which supported the recommendations by TCFD, we will also coordinate with Hitachi, Ltd., our parent company, in our efforts to achieve substantial disclosure.
We have responded to CDP climate change questionnaires at the Hitachi High-Tech Group. In FY2021, we received a score of " Leadership: A-" for “best practices in the managing environmental issues” in our businesses. In addition, we were selected as Supplier Engagement Leader, the highest rating in the Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) assessment performed by CDP. This is the first time we have been selected for our actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire Hitachi High-Tech supply chain.
The Hitachi High-Tech Group will work toward improvements in corporate value, while making effective efforts to address climate change risks.