The U.S.-Japan Exchange Program for Green Growth Collaboration through Clean Energy Technologies (EXCET), funded by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Japan, is a platform for leading higher education institutions from both Japan and the United States to promote interdisciplinary problem-solving for global grand challenges. This program aims to expand and deepen exchanges and cooperation between researchers from both Japan and the United States in the fields of renewable energy, green energy, as well as in environmental and energy issues, while also discussing policies to promote economic and social development in a sustainable manner through Japan-U.S. cooperation, and compile them into a policy paper.
The University of Tennessee, which is leading this program , jointly held the first workshop with Waseda University and Osaka University on January 16 and 17, 2024, at Komatsu Hall, Building No.121, Waseda University.
n addition to the researchers from the three universities mentioned above, this workshop had numerous participants from the United States and Japan. The participating experts on the U.S. side included those from the U.S. Embassy in Japan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, and University at Buffalo, while experts from Japan included those from the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), Central Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Kyushu University, Gifu University, and specialists from related industries. The main partners from Japan included Professor Yasuhiro Hayashi, Director of the Waseda Center for a Carbon Neutral Society (concurrently serving as a Top-level PI in the carbon neutrality society research field, Chairman of Advanced Collaborative Research Organization for Smart Society, and Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering), Professor Hideo Ishii, and Assistant Professor Akihisa Kaneko from Waseda University, who co-chaired and led the workshop with Associate Professor Yohei Yamaguchi and Specially Appointed Associate Professor Shinya Yoshizawa from Osaka University.
Group photo from the first day of the workshop
The workshop featured lectures, questions and answers, and discussions on the following six themes: Green Technology and Power Systems; Decarbonization, NetZero Strategies and Policy; Energy Demand and Building Energy Efficiency; Energy Justice and Social-Technological Integration; Decarbonization Technology, Manufacture and Agriculture and all; and Electric Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure. There was also an exchange of opinions on how to further advance collaboration between Japan and the United States, poster presentations by students from the three universities, and discussions on policy recommendations. This program will hold three workshops over two years to compile policy recommendations regarding clean energy technology. In addition, through these activities, we will expand and deepen long-term partnerships between Japanese and U.S. universities, promote visits to their respective campuses, and facilitate exchanges between students and faculty members, thereby strengthening and promoting research activities toward the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
Professor Brad Day, Associate Vice Chancellor, University of Tennessee
This workshop was held with a grant from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Japan. In addition to Associate Vice Chancellor Professor Brad Day, Professor Mingzhou Jin, Associate Professor Chien-fei Chen, and Professor Kevin Tomsovic from the University of Tennessee, the workshop was attended by many other prominent researchers working in the area of clean energy technology both from Japan and abroad.
Professor Mingzhou Jin and Associate Professor Chien-fei Chen
At the beginning of the workshop, Director Hayashi from the Waseda Center for a Carbon Neutral Society gave opening remarks.
Keynote speeches on the themes of “Toward net Zero Energy and Emission Buildings” and “A Renewed Commitment to Energy Justice in the US Government” were delivered by Professor Shinichi Tanabe (concurrently serving as Dean of Advanced Collaborative Research Organization for Smart Society (ACROSS), a Top-level PI in the carbon neutrality society research field, and Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering) and Associate Professor Tony Reames of the University of Michigan (former Principal Deputy Director for State and Community Energy Programs and Deputy Director for Energy Justice at the U.S. Department of Energy), respectively.
Professor Tanabe and Associate Professor Tony Reames
On the second day, in Panel 6 on the theme of “Decarbonization Technology, Manufacture and Agriculture and all,” Associate Director Satoru Shimokawa of the Waseda Center for a Carbon Neutral Society (concurrently serving as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University) delivered a lecture concerning “The Integration of Renewable Energy and Agriculture for Green Growth in Japan.” The theme of “energy issues and agriculture,” which combines the arts and sciences, attracted a lot of attention and led to a lively Q&A session.
In the same panel session, Professor Yoshiharu Amano (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University and Director of the Research Promotion Division), also delivered his lecture on the theme of “Decarbonizing Manufacturing: Challenges and Opportunities.”
The two-day workshop ended with great success. Keeping in mind the strategies, perspectives, and strengths from different backgrounds and fields of expertise of both Japan and the United States, we will continue to implement the workshop initiative with the cooperation of the U.S. Embassy. We are planning to hold a workshop at the University of Tennessee next year, and at Osaka University the year after.
Group photo from the second day of the workshop
Going forward, the Waseda Center for a Carbon Neutral Society will continue the long-term cooperative relationship between Japan and the United States through the initiatives of the EXCET program, and further promote research and educational activities that contribute to a carbon-neutral society internationally.
