Contribute to regional society (energy and mobility)
Basic approach
Initiatives for regional revitalization and solving social issues
Our company positions the resolution of social issues as an important management issue, and we share solutions tailored to local issues from eight perspectives: not only energy, but also transportation, welfare, industry, the environment, human resource development, disaster prevention and crime prevention, and tourism. We are working on creation.
“Smart Yorozuya” concept, a base for mobility and community
"Smart Yorozuya" aims to evolve our brand, apollostation, into a "lifestyle support hub" that supports the people of each town and their enriched lives. Under the new slogan of "Bringing all kinds of a! to this town," apollostation will evolve into YOROZU (infinitely diverse) to meet the needs of each town and strive to become a supporter of energy and mobility. I'll go.
apollostation, which began rolling out in April 2021, will have all brand integration completed by the end of 2023, including approximately 1,300 lorries and logistics systems and approximately 6,000 service stations. Together with our important partners, dealers and transportation companies, we aim to make apollostation brand a brand that continues to be supported by our customers into the future.
Initiatives
Mobility services
Solving regional mobility issues by deploying mobility services
We will continue to work to solve social issues related to mobility by leveraging our strengths in the mobility field, which has supported motorization to date, and the strengths of our bases that have contributed to local communities through a stable supply of energy.
We will further expand the customer contact base that we have cultivated to date and respond to latent mobility needs by leveraging our SS network and vehicle maintenance technology, as well as developing a variety of mobility lineups, including ultra-compact EVs. In addition to developing and providing vehicles, we will also develop new subscription and car-sharing models, build digital platforms related to MaaS, and develop recycling systems.
Furthermore, in the future, we will develop new services that combine the electricity sales offered by apollostation with various mobility devices, build distributed energy that treats individual vehicles as storage batteries, and reuse and recycle systems for vehicles and batteries. We will work on developing mobility services.
As a specific example of our efforts, we have been conducting a car sharing demonstration using ultra-compact EVs in Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture since October 2022. In this demonstration, we are collaborating with Okuma Town and local dealers to meet the transportation needs of residents and visitors working on earthquake recovery efforts, and to provide a new means of transportation. We will continue to work with local governments and dealers to develop new services that are rooted in the needs of each region. Additionally, in June 2023, we began monitoring public road driving using a prototype ultra-compact EV ideta at our training facility, the Ishioka Training Center (Ibaraki Prefecture). We will continue development while identifying points for improvement.
Concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture
~Contributing to the environment and regional revitalization by utilizing advanced technologies such as ultra-compact EVs~
In April 2021, our company and Ichihara City concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with the aim of collaborating and cooperating in areas that contribute to regional revitalization, such as local tourism promotion and industrial development. Under this new agreement, we are also developing ''Autoshare'', a car sharing service using ultra-compact EVs, in Ichihara City, which we are currently testing.
We are collaborating with Smart Drive Co., Ltd., which provides services that utilize mobility data, and Nightray Co., Ltd., which provides regional revitalization support solutions using location information big data and analysis technology, to improve local tourism Resources. We are promoting initiatives to maximize this. By combining vehicle location data and SNS data sent by tourists, it will be used for measures to smooth the movement of tourists and to guide them to hidden tourist spots and tourism spots in Ichihara City. We are working on promoting
Future concept using drones
In light of the Civil Aviation Law Amendment in December 2022, our company has begun joint development of domestically produced drones with Futaba Electronics Industries Co., Ltd. with the aim of provide for society. Using this, we will develop services closely tied to local areas through SS locations.
Currently, in addition to providing methods such as maintenance of the aircraft, we have begun considering business such as plant equipment inspection, agricultural use such as growth monitoring and pesticide spraying, and future logistics delivery. By leveraging the strengths of SS, we will develop a comprehensive drone business from aircraft development to operation and human resource development.
Community co-creation/life support
Efforts to support the conversion of public transportation to EVs on Tanegashima
The efforts of the "Co-JUNKAN" platform research center for "Beyond "Zero Carbon"" in the Tanegashima area of Kagoshima Prefecture, where our company conducts joint research with industry, academia, and the public, have been selected as " It was adopted in February 2022 as a full-scale (co-creation field) project under the Co-Creation Space Formation Support Program (COINEXT).
In order to jointly demonstrate the ''EV-related business at service station by converting provide for society of mobility that will contribute to the realization of CN. In January 2022, we began an initiative to convert some of Donga Taxi's vehicles into EVs.
This demonstration is a joint demonstration with Tanegashima Oil Co., Ltd. and Nishinoomote City, and will carry out EV-related projects for five years, including the conversion of public transportation vehicles to EVs and the charging of public transportation EV vehicles at service stations operated by Tanegashima Oil. We will verify it over.
Community-based business creation initiatives at the Aizu Creation Center
Aizuwakamatsu City (Fukushima Prefecture) is surrounded by rich nature and is historically and culturally sophisticated, but it is also a microcosm of Japan due to the rapid decline in population and changes in the industrial structure due to the relocation of factories. We are facing some challenges. In order to solve these issues, we are working on the "Smart City Aizu Wakamatsu" as a future-oriented town development measure that utilizes ICT, and it has been adopted as part of the government's Digital Garden City Nation Initiative. The city has also been selected as a leading decarbonization region by the Ministry of the Environment, and is working to expand the use of renewable energy using ICT.
Our company will open the Aizu Creation Center in the ICT office building "Smart City AiCT", which houses local companies that support this initiative, and from 2021 we will create opportunities for open innovation and provide community-based services. We are working on creating a model. Specifically, we are conducting research on smart homes that combine energy savings and comfort in existing homes by combining our own energy management systems with IoT technologies such as sensors and networks from partner companies. In addition, we are promoting the creation of next-generation businesses originating from Aizuwakamatsu, such as considering a mobility business in collaboration with a major trading company and developing services through DX for local utility companies.
Construction of an energy management system linked to a vehicle management system at Kunitomi Town Hall, Miyazaki Prefecture
From October 2021, our company will be working on the premises of Kunitomi Town Hall in Kunitomi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, which is working to popularize natural energy as part of "town development that is friendly to people and the environment." We are conducting demonstration experiments with the aim of building a system that contributes to improvement. A solar power generation system, three public EV vehicles, a vehicle reservation system that manages EV reservations, multiple storage batteries, EV chargers/dischargers/EV chargers, and an energy management system that remotely and comprehensively controls these resources. By introducing this system, we aim to work with local governments to realize local production and consumption of energy and low carbonization.
In addition, the energy management system built in this demonstration experiment will optimize energy use by creating and operating optimal charging and discharging plans for storage batteries and EVs, reducing power costs and CO2 emissions. It is possible to contribute, and we have started providing it as part of the idemitsu CN support service, which started in August 2022 and supports local governments and companies in converting to electric power CN and introducing EVs.
●Image diagram of optimization of charging and discharging control of EVs and storage batteries
Development of healthcare business for seniors
As part of our efforts to implement ''next-generation mobility and communities in anticipation of an aging society,'' we have been working on rehabilitation-type day services that help maintain and improve the health of local seniors. In April 2021, we will make QLC Produce Co., Ltd. a subsidiary to further strengthen store opening activities and work on developing new healthcare services.
Local production and local consumption of energy
Initiatives for local production and consumption of energy in Kagoshima Prefecture
In April 2023, we began a joint demonstration of power supply to each facility and EV charging through a small-scale on-site PPA *1 at the Minamitane Town Hall in Kagoshima Prefecture and the Tanegashima Airport Terminal Building. In this demonstration, we will use the renewable energy (renewable energy) power separation supply system "IDEPASS™" *2 (IDEPASS) developed by our company, and the system "Renewable Energy Choice™" *3 that allows you to select renewable energy power when charging EVs. I am making use of it.
Tanegashima Oil Co., Ltd., which is collaborating in the above demonstration, and our company have so far promoted local production and consumption of energy in Tanegashima through EV-related business demonstrations, including EV conversion and charging of public transportation vehicles in Nishinoomote City, Kagoshima Prefecture. I have been working on this. In addition, the EV rental cars provided by Nippon Rent-a-Car Service Co., Ltd. can be charged at two quick chargers on the island (operated by Tanegashima Oil Co., Ltd.), and our group companies provide payment services for charging fees. Demonstration to utilize the system began in May 2023.
Through these initiatives, we aim to diversify and reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to the realization of a prosperous lifestyle in the region.
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On-site PPA:
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IDEPASS™: A system that separates the supplied electricity (renewable energy/non-renewable energy) at facilities that can procure electricity derived from renewable energy, and allows customers to choose which one to use.
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Renewable Energy Choice™: A system that allows EV users to choose to charge with renewable energy from the electricity separated by IDEPASS.
Start of demonstration project for next-generation agricultural solar power generation
In June 2023, we began a demonstration of next-generation agricultural solar power generation that balances agriculture and renewable energy generation in a rice field in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture. Using a movable mount that automatically tracks sunlight and a double-sided solar panel, during the farming season, priority is given to sunlight irradiating the crops grown under the panels, maintaining and improving crop yield and quality. We will aim to The generated electricity will be sold to the general public through our subsidiary, Idemitsu Green Power Co., Ltd. By realizing power generation that takes into account the growth of agricultural crops, we aim to build a business model that balances farming and power generation. This system also won the 2023 Good Design Award sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.
Participating in the Woody Biomass Utilization Promotion Council in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture - Demonstrating and promoting the use of woody biomass materials for local production and local consumption of energy and forestry promotion -
In January 2021, our company participated as a council member in the Woody Biomass Utilization Promotion Council launched by Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Taking advantage of the characteristics of Shunan City, which has both abundant forest Resources and biomass power generation facilities, the council will promote the use of domestically produced woody biomass materials through demonstration experiments, with the aim of local production and consumption of energy and promotion of forestry.
At the council, participating companies and institutions will work together to consider expanding the use of domestic timber, including by demonstrating the production of woody biomass materials using fast-growing trees in part of the Shunan City municipal forest. In addition to short-term, low-cost biomass production using fast-growing trees, transportation costs can be reduced by taking advantage of the close proximity of the forest and consumption area. In addition, the conversion to fast-growing trees will contribute to the recycling of forests and the promotion of forestry. Based on this demonstration experiment, we will aim to expand the production of woody biomass materials from fast-growing trees to other areas of the city, and will also discuss ways to utilize domestically produced woody biomass.
Aiming to provide a more low-carbon energy supply, we are proceeding with the construction of a biomass power plant at Tokuyama Complex on the site of a former Refinery. Our company and Tokuyama Complex will continue to work with Shunan City to promote the use of renewable energy and the establishment of a model for local production and local consumption of energy.
current situation
- Cedar, cypress, etc. are used for products such as building materials and paper, starting with the thickest part of the trunk, in descending order of value in descending order of value.
・It is assumed that materials that cannot be used with other materials, such as root parts and branches, will be used as biomass.
・Requires care for over 45 years to grow into a valuable tree
Demonstration project
・Creating a forest where whole trees are used as biomass from the beginning
・Verify reduction in cultivation costs by omitting underbrushing, pruning, thinning, etc.
・Empirical cultivation of tree species that are suitable for Shunan City and can be expected to grow in a short period of time, such as the fast-growing Koyozan tree.
Promoting collaboration agreement with Saitama City
Under the "Collaboration Agreement on Promoting the Utilization of Renewable Energy, etc. to Realize a Zero Carbon City" concluded with Saitama City, we will supply surplus solar power generated by ordinary households in the city to facilities in the city through our company. We are developing a local production for local consumption model. This model also provides a "notification service" that monitors surplus power data and notifies you of possible abnormalities in solar power generation equipment, as well as a service that introduces inspection and maintenance companies. We support the effective use of photovoltaic power generation equipment.
In order to further promote the agreement, we are planning to carry out demonstrations with an eye toward the carbon neutral era at the city's apollostation addition to introducing solar power generation equipment, storage batteries, and energy management, we will also provide EV rapid charging services. The plan is to make EVs truly zero-carbon by charging them with renewable energy.
Through these efforts, we aim to realize the "regional circular and symbiotic sphere" advocated in this agreement.
