Renewable Energies

The expansion of photovoltaics, wind energy, biomass and other renewable electricity sources is a central pillar of the energy transition. To integrate renewables into the energy system, key technologies are also needed in the areas of storage, hydrogen production and use, and energy management.

ECOS creates platforms for exchange on these key topics such as the German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum, the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council or the German-Japanese Biomass Day and prepares studies on relevant individual topics such as biogas. We are just as active in the concrete implementation of projects such as the Smart Community Project in Speyer as we are in the direct communication and marketing of technologies in Japan.

 

Energy Efficiency

The cleanest and cheapest energy is that which is not consumed in the first place. Electricity and heat must be used even more efficiently in buildings as well as in production processes if the energy transition is to be a success.

The decarbonisation of industry was the topic at the 11th German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum. In several bilateral workshops, ECOS brought together experts from Japan and Germany on individual topics such as waste heat utilisation. The German-Japanese Energy Transition Council GJETC dealt with the topic of energy efficiency in studies and an Innovation Roundtable.

In addition, we support companies in the direct placement and marketing of technologies in Japan.

 

GJETC - German-Japanese Energy Transition Cooperation Council

The German-Japanese Energy Transition Cooperation Council is an international model project to strengthen knowledge exchange on technologies, policies and the impacts of the energy transition. In its form, continuity and size, the GJETC is the first German-Japanese cooperation project on the energy transition of its kind. Founded in spring 2016, the Council conducts an extensive study program on core topics of the energy transition, holds stakeholder dialogues with industry and civil society, and has already published seven studies, a series of strategic input and output papers, and two reports with key recommendations for a successful energy transition in March 2018 and June 2020.

The project, jointly launched by the Wuppertal Institute, ECOS, hennicke.consult and the Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ/Tokyo) in spring 2016, is currently funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). It was funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), the Mercator Foundation and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in working phase 1 and 2. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), and the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) also support the project. On the German side, the Wuppertal Institute is coordinating the Council's work as secretariat together with ECOS; on the Japanese side, the Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ) is assuming this task.

 

www.gjetc.org

 

EEDF - German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum

The German-Japanese Environmental and Energy Dialogue Forum (EEDF) celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019. Since its founding in 2007, the Forum has developed into a renowned platform for the exchange of information between experts from business, science and politics in both countries on current environmental and energy issues as well as an incubator for cooperation projects. The forum is organized every 1-2 years alternating in Japan and Germany. The EEDF is supported by the German environmental Ministry, the German Economic Ministry and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Organization (NEDO).

 

Environmental Technology

Whether it is waste separation and treatment, soil remediation, sewage sludge treatment or air filters - environmental technology "Made in Germany" is ahead in many areas and is also considered a leader in Japan.

The ECOS team has been supporting companies for many years in the direct placement and marketing of environmental technologies in Japan and prepares studies on relevant individual topics.

 

Sustainable Food

Agriculture and food production will increasingly be impacted by climate change, in particular from the increased frequency of storms, droughts and other extreme weather events. On the other hand, agriculture itself significantly contributes to global warming. The United Nations (UN) estimates that the food industry is responsible for 30% of global energy consumption and 22% of the gases that cause global warming. Sustainable food production systems can contribute to mitigating climate change while still focusing on food security objectives. The development of innovative technologies for domestic and at the same time sustainable food production and processing is important in this context.

ECOS organises seminars for the exchange of experts, prepares studies on individual topics such as smart farming, initiates projects, for example in the field of circular economy in agriculture, and supports companies and start-ups in the direct placement and marketing of environmental technologies and products in Japan.

 

Smart Mobility

The mobility of tomorrow must become smart and at the same time more climate-friendly. Electric drive, fuel cell vehicles, new mobility concepts such as MaaS are becoming more and more widespread.

Low-emission transport systems and possibilities for the effective use of renewable energies in the transport sector were topics at the 9th German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum. Smart Mobility in Japan was experienced by participants of a fact finding mission organised by ECOS.

The ECOS team also supports companies in the direct placement and marketing of environmental technologies in Japan and prepares studies on relevant individual topics.

 

Circular Economy

Circular economy is more than just waste separation: we understand this megatopic as quite crucial to conserving resources such as water, energy and raw materials, and thus also to protecting the climate. Waste avoidance through eco-design, waste heat utilisation, energy-efficient production processes, alternative materials, biomass utilisation or aquaponics: the range of topics and the necessary technologies are diverse.

The ECOS team organises platforms for the exchange of experts, prepares studies on individual topics, initiates circular economy projects and supports companies in the direct placement and marketing of environmental technologies in Japan.

Hightec

Germany and Japan are considered pioneers in high technologies. Robotics, artificial intelligence, micro- and nanotechnology, optoelectronics and sensor technology are key factors for digitalization in industry, mobility and agriculture. The use of high-tech can also help to mitigate climate change.

At the German-Japanese Economic Forum at the Hannover Messe, we repeatedly addressed the opportunities, benefits and challenges of robotics, AI technologies and IoT. As part of location marketing, the ECOS team also organized a range of professional events on topics such as optics, robotics, life science and smart farming https://www.ecos.eu/de/referenzen.html 。

In addition, ECOS organizes platforms for the exchange of experts, prepares studies on individual topics and offers companies direct placement, marketing and networking in Japan.