Green Decentralization Reform

In order to establish a society based on regional sovereignty, it is necessary to aim for regional sovereignty not only in the administrative and financial system, but also in the lives of individuals, including energy and food supply structures, and in the local economy.
For that reason, it is necessary to establish a mechanism to maximize the use of local resources (rich natural environment, renewable clean energy, safe and abundant food, historical cultural assets, ambitious funds) to local governments, citizens, NPOs etc. By creating work and cooperation, revitalizing the community, revitalizing the bonds, we will diversify our centralized social structure where human resources and funds flow out from the area, decentralize independence · convert to local production era · low carbon type. We intend to realize the construction of a regional sovereign society that enhances the self-sufficiency of the area and creative wealth (the power to generate wealth).
For details on green decentralization reform, please refer to the following website for details.

As a result of conducting surveys and demonstration experiments on the endowment and usable amounts of renewable energy in the "Green Decentralization Reform" promotion project last fiscal year, it was found that there is a large amount of snow and ice heat in particular. And there are abundant water resources born from abundant snow. Toward concrete commercialization in the future, it is necessary to grasp data in more detail about natural energy resources that are considered to be usable in consideration of the balance between supply and demand, with the aim of creating mechanisms and models to enhance the utilization and commercialization of regional resources, and to clarify the specific ideal environment and systems and the mechanism of commercialization. Therefore, we rearranged the endowment and usable amounts of renewable energy by utilizing the "Green Decentralization Reform" research project, and conducted the following studies and demonstration surveys for specific commercialization.
The report can also be downloaded from the following, so please have a look.

Before using a business plan, it is desirable to consider as many possibilities as possible for utilizing renewable energy resources. To understand the further potential of Niseko Town, we will conduct a more accurate basic survey.

In addition to the survey of the last fiscal year, grasp the amount of viability and available amount of small and medium hydraulic power (other than micro hydraulic power), solar power generation, wind power generation, solar heat utilization, and temperature difference energy.

The energy usage status of general households, commercial and business facilities including public facilities and resort hotels, and agricultural facilities in Niseko Town will be divided into heat demand (heating, hot water supply, snow melting), electricity demand, and cooling and heat demand, and the actual situation will be grasped. In addition, we will grasp the amount of demand for electricity outside towns, especially in large cities.

Create an energy balance table for renewable energy in Niseko Town based on the results of the energy usage survey (demand) and the endowment survey (supply).

BBased on the supply-demand balance table created in the basic survey, the use of renewable energy will be discussed with the participation of local residents, and a regional revitalization model project will be studied and proposed. Since renewable energy resources usually exist widely in the region, consensus with local residents regarding their use is very important, but the resident autonomy process rooted in Niseko will be a very important point in the process of utilizing and commercializing natural energy resources.
This fiscal year, assuming the project projects described in 1 ~ 4) below, focusing on the use of snow and ice and water energy resources, discussions and studies will be conducted with the participation of local residents toward the utilization and commercialization of local resources. In the course of the study, in addition to the construction of a business model, the feasibility of the business will be examined in detail, such as cash flow and business risk assessment, and at the same time, a mechanism for circulating funds to the region, such as cooperation with regional financial institutions and citizen-funded funds, will also be studied. In developing the project, the application of the J-VER system will also be studied. When considering the matter, consideration will also be given to cooperation with other development plans in the region. Since it is assumed that specialized knowledge is also required, we aim to make more realistic studies by utilizing networks outside the town. In addition, we will examine the regulatory issues assumed in commercialization, technical issues peculiar to each region, and cost issues.

Niseko Town is a land rich in the world's abundant snow and the water resources flowing from the snow-capped mountains. To take advantage of these, the following projects are assumed in the study of this project.

Niseko, which is rich in natural environment, has been equipped with an optical fiber network from an early stage, and it has an attractive location as a resort office for IT companies and others who do not choose the place of work. In addition, abundant snow can be used as a huge cold heat source in summer by insulating the covering. Therefore, we will consider the construction of resort offices such as IT companies and call centers that use snow cooling, and data centers that emit a large amount of heat and need to cool it, including the use of existing facilities. In winter, waste heat from data centers can also be used as a heating heat source for offices and districts. In addition to simulating the scale of the facility and the amount of heat required, we will study the formation of a new form of industrial core centered on the thermal energy circulation of the region, the economic ripple effect of the project to the region, the effect of job creation, etc.

Hokkaido, Japan's food supply base, will promote a "large-scale food stockpiling project" in production areas to improve the profitability of agriculture, which is a key industry in Honcho, in order to ensure a stable supply of safe and secure agricultural products. In consideration of the recent domestic electric power business, snow and ice, which is a renewable energy unique to the region, are used as a cold heat source, but even if we look at the whole country, we have no track record of using snow and ice as a large-scale food storage warehouse. To this end, in this project, we will formulate a business model, listen to the opinions of academic experts and experts, and consider measures to sort out and solve technical and cost issues.

As a countermeasure against the demand for air conditioning, which has been increasing in demand in recent years, we will develop a local production for local consumption type project that utilizes snow and ice cooling and heat, which are abundantly existing in the region. Specifically, we will prepare "snow and ice units" using steel containers for agricultural products in the winter season and develop a business that provides them to facilities that require cold and heat demand. As a demonstration experiment, using snow mountains that have been stored in thermal insulation coverings, we will create a snow and ice unit to be used in a farmer's warehouse, measure temperature and humidity, etc., and examine efficiency and economic efficiency. Examine the feasibility of a business that creates, provides, and operates snow and ice units

Materials on the amount of energy for hydroelectric power generation existing in Honmachi, including the first-class river Shiribetsu River, will be collected and studied for conducting power generation projects. It is conceivable that the power obtained by hydroelectric power generation can be sold to regions and urban areas, but the possibility of using it at the above data centers and the like will also be studied. Specific demonstration experiments will not be conducted for this project, but studies will be conducted to clarify issues such as compatibility with the preservation of the natural environment, which is an obstacle to commercialization, and water rights.

Regarding "Green Decentralization Reform Promotion Project" implemented in FY 2010, the outline of the project is posted on this page. All performance reports can also be downloaded in PDF format.

Green decentralization is a project created by collaboration and cooperation between local governments and residents. With your active participation, the results will be even greater. The Green Decentralization Promotion Division wants to cooperate and carry out this project while sharing information with you. Please participate positively by all means.

We held a tour for townspeople about the snow and ice warehouse demonstration experiment, which is being conducted as a green decentralization reform research project. The tour can be viewed on the Niseko Town Official Ustream Channel.

We publish various information about decentralization reform of Niseko Town green. We will update the status of business initiatives, including the Green Decentralization Promotion Committee, as needed. Please take a look.