Yokohama – Smart City Project

More specifically, the Yokohama Smart City Project is a five-year pilot program with a consortium of seven Japanese companies – Nissan Motor Co., Panasonic Corp., Toshiba Corp., Tokyo Electric Power Co., Tokyo Gas Co., Accenture’s Japan unit and Meidensha Corp.

In 2010, the City of Yokohama formulated the Yokohama Smart City Project (YSCP)to run in three Yokohama city districts and it has since been deployed to the entire city with a project area covering about 435 km2. The project applies smart grids for the energy management of households, buildings and local communities, introduces large scale renewable energy, and promotes next generation transport systems in order to demonstrate new urban management forms. The project’s mission is to establish a social system that can sustainable develop in an already established city.

In order to achieve this, the city introduced a Community Energy Management System (CEMS) to achieve efficient energy management by linking each EMS, such as in homes and buildings, and stationary energy storage. Specific goals include:

• Introduction of EMS for 4,000 homes to achieve 20 percent energy reduction.
• EMS for offices and commercial buildings to control and reduce peak energy consumption by 20 percent.
• EMS for factories.

In addition, the city will provide 2,000 electric vehicles and charging stations for the transport sector. The use of renewable energy sources is also a priority for the city, as is an effort to change the way citizens relate to energy use. Solar power generation in 249 locations, wind power generation in 2 locations, hydropower generation in 3 locations, and biomass power generation in 6 locations will be implemented. In addition, consumers will receive incentives to limit electricity use, thus contributing to the reduction of CO2 at a lower social cost.
Finally, citizen participation is key to the success of YSCP. For example, the Yokohama Eco School project (YES) was developed to increase citizen participation in YSCP and educate citizens about climate change through lectures, events and workshops. In 2012, 418 lectures were held for 35,000 participants and 121 partner organizations. This led to an increased number of Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) installed in homes, as well as PV generation systems and storage batteries. Additionally, 4,000 households participated in the FY2014 demonstration project, showing high level of public spirit and making YSCP one of Japan’s largest energy saving projects to date.

http://www.smartecocity.com/japan/yscp/

http://www.c40.org/profiles/2014-yokohama

To contact in Japanese only : ss-seisaku@city.yokohama.jp

Or in English : callcenter@city.yokohama.jp