- East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Station City Energy Create Co., Ltd. and JR East Logistics Co., Ltd. plan to harness hydrogen, biogas and other renewable energy sources throughout the approx. 9.5 ha TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, which is scheduled to open in March 2025. The entire city will be used to promote sustainable urban development that is kind to people, the city and the earth, and to enrich lives for the next 100 years. The group will work together to improve both the appeal and value of the area, while achieving further benefits for the earth.
- TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY is a pilot project for tackling the JR East Group long-term goal embodied in Zero Carbon Challenge 2050, and the aim is to have net zero CO₂ emissions from all supplied energy from its opening in March 2025. In addition, the city will use hydrogen and a circular economy that harnesses waste as a resource to achieve a future in which all activities in the city are beneficial to the earth.
Station City Energy Create Co., Ltd. is working on an energy management system that integrates supply and demand in order to realise urban development that incorporates advanced environmental and energy technologies. The project will utilise diverse renewable energy sources, fuel cells and food waste-derived biogas systems for the realisation of a future hydrogen-based society. Furthermore, JR East Logistics Co., Ltd. is working to achieve logistics services for the area that are both environmentally friendly and flexible. Through these efforts, TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY will promote sustainable urban development through city-wide endeavours that are kind to people, the city and the earth.
Initiatives for a zero carbon, sustainable city
(1) Environmental and energy initiatives for net zero CO₂ emissions
A combination of systems that conserve, create and manage energy, together with the utilisation of energy certificates, ensure that all electricity in the city is derived from renewable sources with the aim of ensuring net zero CO₂ emissions for all supplied energy from its opening in March 2025.
① Energy management THE LINKPILLAR 2 is equipped with an underground air-conditioning facility that boasts one of Japan’s largest heat storage tanks. This achieves a highly efficient energy supply and allows water from the heat storage tank to be used as an emergency supply (for toilets in evacuation facilities, firefighting, etc.) in the event of a disaster, improving the BCP1 [fn]Business Continuity Plan: Vital countermeasures ensure that essential business operations are not interrupted or can resume within an allotted time when interrupted by a disaster, to prevent business loss to competitors, loss of market share and the deterioration of corporate reputation.[/fn] for residents and the local community. Furthermore, the demand-responsive zoned air conditioning management system [fn]Created in partnership by Station City Energy Create Co., Ltd. and Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., patent registered in August 2022.[/fn] divides building areas into zones to control equipment operation, achieving comfort and cutting-edge, optimised energy utilisation throughout the city.
② Hydrogen utilisation Through TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY we are working to create an environmentally friendly hydrogen-based society through the use of hydrogen in efforts such as mobility for the community and logistics that support city operation. By supplying electricity and heat energy derived from hydrogen to the city, we are aiming for a future in which hydrogen is one of the key energy sources.
- Hydrogen fuel cell system at Takanawa Gateway Station
- An environmentally friendly, next-generation logistics platform
(2) Achieving a circular economy
We are working towards a circular economy whereby waste and resources generated by business activities within the city are recycled and used effectively.
- Eastern Japan’s first in-building biogas facilities
In addition, we are also considering the collection of CO₂ emitted by the city and its effective use in the life of the city. By further developing initiatives, we will build an urban centre that leads the way in environmental action, and will ensure that all endeavours within TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY are kind to people, the city and the earth, and that visitors, area employees and local residents all contribute in ways that benefit the earth – simply by living and working in the area.
Reference TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY development overview Continuing its traditional role as a gateway to Edo (now known as Tokyo) and following a history of innovation that began with Japan’s first railways, TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY will be an experimental site to create enriching lives for the next 100 years, where the creation of new culture and business continues under the concept of a global gateway.
THE LINKPILLAR 1 and the area around Takanawa Gateway Station will open at the end of the 2024 financial year (March 2025), with the other buildings (THE LINKPILLAR 2, the Center for Cultural Innovations and TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY RESIDENCE) and surrounding areas due to during the 2025 financial year.
JR East will continue to develop the Shinagawa Development Project to enhance the value of the area around Shinagawa Station (Shinagawa Station North Exit and Shinagawa Station Block).
Official website: https://www.takanawagateway-city.com (Source: JR East)