Newsletter Toshiba Technologies Responding to Climate Change & Fostering Sustainable Development

Toshiba Technologies Responding to Climate Change & Fostering Sustainable Development

ISSUE 15: February 2022 Sustainable development embraces ESG objectives to deliver long-term equitable growth which benefits current and future generations. Towards advancing environmental management, centered in Toshiba Group's Environmental Future Vision 2050, Toshiba has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and that by FY2030 greenhouse gas emissions in our value chain will be 70% lower than in FY2019.

Medium- to Long-term Vision

As a response to climate change: We will achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entire value chain
- Achieve carbon neutrality by FY2050
- 70% reduction of GHG emissions by FY2030 (from the FY2019 level)
70% reduction of emissions generated from Toshiba Group business activities by FY2030: (from the FY2019 level)
80% reduction of use-phase emissions of products and services associated with power supply sold by FY2030: (from the FY2019 level)
14% reduction of use-phase emission of products and services associated with power consumption sold by FY2030: (from the FY2019 level)
Reduce GHG emissions derived from purchased products and services in collaboration with suppliers (base year TBD)
Promote business that related to climate change adaption measures

FY2020 Achievements

Total GHG generated from business activites:
1.05 millon t-CO₂
Reduction of GHG emissions by products and services*
Products and services associated with power supply:
21.61 million t-CO₂
Products and services associated with power consumption:
6.95 millon t-CO₂

In the recently published Sustainability Report 2021, Toshiba summarized its goals and FY2020 results responding to climate change.

Toshiba continues its effort in developing and promoting its decarbonization technologies that support local and global initiatives for carbon neutrality. Toshiba Group has developed state-of-the-art new solar cells to boost the renewable energy generation sector, while promoting technologies to capture and utilize CO₂.

Light, film-type perovskite solar cells and Cu₂O tandem solar cells with high power generation efficiency

Carbon neutrality is only possible with renewable energy, and solar energy is considered as one of the most promising alternatives. But silicon solar cells are heavy and rigid, limiting where they can be used. The film-type perovskite solar cell is thin, light and flexible, advantages for wide-scale installation in places where silicon solar cells cannot be installed. It promises greatly increased solar power generation. (See more: 3 minutes video to understand Toshiba's film-type perovskite solar cell).

Toshiba's Cu₂O tandem solar cell makes current modules more efficient. Formed with transparent cuprous oxide (Cu₂O), it is positioned over a standard silicon cell. As the cells generate power at different wavelengths, output per area significantly increase. This highly efficient solar cell promises electric vehicles that need no recharging on long journeys.

(See more: latest advance in power conversion efficiency of the transparent Cu₂O solar cell.)

Toshiba’s film-type perovskite solar cell (left) and transparent Cu₂O solar cell (right).

CO₂ capture and power to chemicals (P2C) technologies

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and P2C technologies tackle carbon neutrality in industries where it is difficult to reduce CO₂ emissions. CCUS captures CO₂. A pilot plant Toshiba has operated since 2009 recovers 10 tons of CO₂ per day, and in 2020 Toshiba brought this know-how to the capability of the world's first large-scale facility with BECCS^*. It recovers over 50% of flue gas from the biomass power plant—600 tons of CO₂ a day.

P2C turns CO₂ into valuable resources. Toshiba has developed a CO₂ electrolyzer that uses artificial photosynthesis technology to achieve world-class conversion rate of CO₂ to CO, a raw material for chemicals. Toshiba is developing business models for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a P2C product.

Circular carbon economy model

Toshiba Environment Technologies at UPRUVNL Harduaganj Thermal Power Plant

Contributing to India's energy security, Toshiba has set up the 660MW super critical thermal power project for UPRUVNL at Harduaganj. Being a Brown field project, one of key challenges that Toshiba overcame was to set up the entire project in about 165 acres of land as against 300 acres required for this size of the project.

The Harduaganj plant is designed for Zero Liquid-effluent Discharge (ZLD) to outside. It incorporates treatment facility for up to 451 m³/hr of liquid effluent generated in the plant through a clarifier. Clarified effluent (up to 160 m³/hr) is used for Coal Handling Plant & Ash Silo dust suppression and horticulture purpose and remaining clarified water (up to 291 m³/hr) is further treated through Reverse Osmosis (RO) process such that it can be used as make to the cooling tower thereby reducing the fresh make up water. Such ZLD concept reduces the total plant water consumption by up to 451 m³/hr and also eliminates pollution from such liquid effluents. This system fulfils the requirement of the project environmental clearance.

*Project Outline:
1. Plant: Harduaganj Ultra-supercritical Thermal Power Plant
2. Client: Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd. (UPRVUNL)
3. Location: Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh State, India
4. Scope: EPC Project

Message from the Management

With our R&D focus and advanced technology, including carbon management, renewable energy and digital transformation, Toshiba Group contributes to sustainable development of India, for a New Day.

I also congratulate everyone involved in the state-of-the-art Harduaganj Power project and express my gratitude to the state Government, local authorities and the management team at UPRUVNL for their support.

Mr. Shuichi Ito
Managing Director
Toshiba India Pvt. Ltd.

Toshiba Corporate Video 2022 "Our Commitment "

Toshiba has long been committed to solving global social issues. We are advancing the quest for carbon neutrality and resilient infrastructure, making full use of our strengths in energy, infrastructure, devices and digital technologies to deliver solutions that only Toshiba can. We remain true to our longstanding basic commitment, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future.” and will continue to promote innovation and tackle issues head on.