Realization of Transition to 100% Renewable Energy at New Yokohama City Hall Building
As one of the largest inner city projects, Yokohama City has taken the initiative in replacing all power consumed within city-owned facilities with renewable energy by 2050 as part of promoting a “Zero Carbon Yokohama”. The first step towards this goal, the city commits the electric power used at the Yokohama City Hall New Government Building will be 100% renewable energy in FY2020. This move will serve to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by some 5,800t-CO2 (approximately accounting for 80% of emissions for the entire New City Hall building). Looking forward, we will pursue a complete shift to renewable energy in 18 ward office buildings of Yokohama by FY2025.
1. Purpose
Yokohama City formulated the “Yokohama City Strategy on the Use of Renewable Energy” in May 2020 in order to outline in detail its vision for 2050 to be achieved with a “Zero Carbon Yokohama.” Amidst these circumstances, the city is expected to halve inner city energy consumption and replace energy sources with renewable energy in order to achieve its goals for a “Zero Carbon Yokohama”. To this end, the Yokohama City Hall has led by example in proposing that all energy consumption within City Hall facilities be replaced with renewable energy by 2050, with government offices and ward offices fully converting to renewable energy as part of the first step toward achieving this goal. In FY2020, the new Yokohama City Hall building (hereafter, the new building) exhibits the highest level of energy saving performance, and promotes the local production and consumption of renewable energy through the total use of renewable energy by relying on renewable energy produced by incineration plants in Yokohama, and energy generated by solar power generation facilities found in homes in Yokohama (post-FIT) following the end of the government’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme.
2. Business scheme
Renewable energy generated by incineration plants in Yokohama is supplied to the new building using a self-consignment system. Further, other energy options employing a post FIT model for energy generation is used to supply the new building with energy from electric power retailers.
3. Next steps
The City is working toward the complete shift to renewable energy in the ward offices frequented by residents and businesses alike by FY2025. The City is also looking to further expand the use of renewable energy, such as shifting to renewable energy in facilities used by residents.
See full press release here.
By Yokohama City
