ENECHANGE & Japan Natural Energy expanding operation of GreenCart, our online renewable origin certification platform

Last year, ENECHANGE Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Yohei Kiguchi; Representative Director & COO: Ippei Arita; hereafter:“the Company”) started the joint operation of GreenCart, our online platform for issuing renewable origin certificates, with Japan Natural Energy Company Limited (JNE) (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Yoshiteru Kato), the largest* handler of renewable origin certificates in Japan. After a successful start, we are expanding this service, which means we are now also able to issue certifications for the power used by corporate customers in office buildings, commercial facilities, factories, as well as during events.

*Transaction volume of  renewable origin certificates in Japan in FY2020: 5.85 billion kWh, accounting for 55% of the total

Online renewable origin certificates platform “GreenCart” (Japanese only)：https://green.natural-e.co.jp

Background

In recent years, efforts to reach net zero have been accelerating in countries around the world, and Japan has also turned the corner toward the realization of a net zero society by 2050. In addition, with the expansion of ESG investment activities, which focus not only on financial aspects but also on climate change and decarbonization, companies are required to decarbonize their operations. In addition, the proposed amendment to the Act on the Rational Use of Energy, which is scheduled to come into effect in 2023, will require approximately 12,000 domestic companies that use large amounts of energy to set targets for the use of non-fossil energy sources such as solar, hydrogen, and nuclear power. Against this backdrop, the need for renewable origin certificates is increasing further. Green Power Certificates are a specific type of renewable origin certificates that can be used to meet environmental obligations set by Japanese law, e.g. reduction of CO2 emissions, of electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

Functions and features of GreenCart

GreenCart, our online renewable origin certification platform which has been available since May 2021, is unique in that it offers immediate issuance of certificates by introducing a credit card payment system. The original certificates were primarily meant for EV subsidies issued by METI. We have now expanded the service so that corporations and businesses can also purchase Green Power Certificates online. In addition to greening the electricity used by offices and businesses, you can now do the same for event venues for a limited time. Moreover, you can now download the Green Power Mark from the My Page section of the website. The Green Power Mark is issued by Japan Natural Energy to corporations and businesses that have purchased Green Power Certificates, and can be displayed on products and corporate websites to promote their efforts to reduce environmental impact.

Image of GreenCart’s My Page menu (Japanese only)

What is a What is a Green Power Certificate?

A Green Power Certificate is a type of renewable origin certificate corresponding to an environmental obligation, handled by the private sector and recognized by the Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA). As it uses the same calculation method as the I-REC Renewable Energy Certificate, it means that international standards can also be used to certify actual power amounts generated from specified renewable energy generation facilities. The certificate is highly rated for its quality and legitimacy: it can track the amount generated over a given period, specifying the method and generation facility, and there is strict control over its use to prevent e.g. double use.

Comment from Keiki Kato, Representative Director and President, Japan Natural Energy Company Limited.

We have expanded our GreenCart service for corporate customers. With this service, customers can use GreenCart at their offices, factories, and events, and we hope that it will contribute to their activities to achieve full sustainability and the SDGs. Through the collaboration with ENECHANGE, we will continue to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy in Japan through GreenCart.

Comments from Ippei Arita, Representative Director and COO of ENECHANGE Ltd.

GreenCart, our online renewable origin certification platform, has now expanded to include corporate customers. The importance of climate change issues and decarbonization in corporate management is increasing every year, and we believe that the ability to easily and instantly purchase and issue certificates online will help companies to decarbonize. We will continue to collaborate with Japan Natural Energy to provide better services and support the realization of a net zero future in Japan.

About ENECHANGE Ltd.

ENECHANGE is an energy technology company that promotes a carbon-free society through digital technology with the mission of Changing Energy For A Better World. We offer services based on data utilization in the field of the 4Ds of Energy: Deregulation, Digitalization, Decarbonization, and Decentralization. Our company’s roots come from an energy data lab at the University of Cambridge, U.K., a country where liberalization is mature. ENECHANGE has a British subsidiary, SMAP Energy Limited, as well as a global network and analytical technology for energy data.

URL: https://enechange.co.jp/en/

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