Kyowa Kirin Announces Introduction of Renewable Energy “Aqua Premium” for its Fuji Research Park and CMC R&D Center - Kyowa Kirin Group to reduce annual CO2 emissions by approximately 39%
January 11, 2022
Tokyo, Japan, January 11, 2022 --Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE:4151, President and CEO: Masashi Miyamoto, “Kyowa Kirin”) introduced Aqua Premium on Saturday, January 1, 2022, and switched 100% of the purchased electricity to a hydroelectric power source that does not emit CO2 at its Fuji Research Park and CMC R&D Center*1 (Shizuoka Prefecture).
Aqua Premium is the first tariff plan in Japan to supply electricity only from hydroelectric power plants that do not emit CO2, which is provided by TEPCO Energy Partner, Incorporated (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Nobuhide Akimoto). Kyowa Kirin introduced Aqua Premium to Takasaki Plant in 2020, which is the first case in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Japan. In addition, electricity derived from renewable energy sources has already been introduced for use in Kyowa Kirin’s head office in Tokyo*2. With this further introduction of Aqua Premium, approximately 45,400,000 kWh out of the Kyowa Kirin Group's annual power consumption of approximately 72,400,000 kWh*3 will be switched to power from hydroelectric power sources. It is expected that the Kyowa Kirin Group's annual CO2 emissions*3 will be reduced by approximately 39% (approximately 20,000 tons).
"We are pleased to announce that we have introduced renewable energy to these two main sites in Japan, which we believe it is a great progress in our efforts to cut CO2 emission," said Koichiro Ishimaru, Executive Officer, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Management Department at Kyowa Kirin. "We declared our support for the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) in November 2021 and started information disclosure on climate change in accordance with the TCFD recommendations. We will continue to take measures to combat climate change in order to realize a sustainable society."
The Kyowa Kirin Group is proactively working to protect the global environment and promote activities aimed at realizing a sustainable society*4. In response to climate change, Kyowa Kirin will introduce and expand renewable energy sources to achive the Kyowa Kirin Group’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 55% from the 2019 level by 2030 and goals of the Kirin Group*5, led by Kyowa Kirin’s parent company, Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.
The Kyowa Kirin Group companies strive to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world by creating new value through the pursuit of advances in life sciences and technologies.
- *1 About Fuji Research Park and CMC R&D Center
- Main business：Pharmaceutical research and development
Size of site area：82,000 m2
Location：1188, Shimotogari, Nagaizumi Town, Sunto County, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan - *2 About electricity used at Kyowa Kirin’s head office
- At Otemachi Financial City Grand Cube, the building housing Kyowa Kirin's headquarters, electricity derived from renewable energy sources that comply with RE100 has been introduced.
- *3 About Kyowa Kirin Group's annual power consumption and CO2 emissions
- These data covers the domestic and overseas plants and research laboratories of the Kyowa Kirin Group.
- *4 About Kyowa Kirin's other initiatives toward the creation of a sustainable society
- https://www.kyowakirin.com/sustainability/index.html
- *5 About Kirin Group’s goal for reduction of GHG(Greenhouse Gas)
- https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/impact/env/mission/
