The Role of RITE
Global warming is one of the most serious issues faced by mankind, and as such must be addressed on a global scale.
In 1990, Japan announced "New Earth 21", a 100-year plan to clean up our natural environment which has been degraded by human industry over the past 200 years.
RITE was established in July 1990 as a center of excellence which would work internationally toward implementing this plan, focusing on the following two measures;
- Development of Innovative Environmental Technologies
- Expansion of CO2 Sinks
- *1.Energy conservation movements in society, increased energy efficiency from equipment, more efficient power plants, improved mileage from automobiles
- *2.Solar cells, fuel cells, nuclear energy
- *3.CO2 separation, capture and storage, bioenergy, biodegradable plastics
- *4.Forestation and forest preservation, greening of arid land by genetically engineered plants
- *5.Space-based solar power generation, nuclear fusion
RITE is addressing research and development of new technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in collaboration with industry, government and academic institutions around the world.
- Research on Strategies to Respond to Global Warming
Computer models are developed and optimal scenarios are explored for both economic development and global warming mitigation; both short/mid-term (～2030) and long-term (～2100) scenarios.
- Development of Biorefinery Technologies
Developing technologies to harness microorganism for efficient production of biofuels and chemicals based on biomass (renewable resources).
Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group
- Development of CO2 Capture and Utilization Technologies
We are working on developing technology to efficiently capture CO2 from various sources such as power plant exhaust gases, industrial exhaust gases, and the atmosphere. In addition, we are promoting the development of carbon recycling technology that utilizes CO2 as a carbon resource.
- Development of CO2 Storage Technologies
We are developing CO2 geological storage technology. Toward the deployment of CCS technology, the CO2 Storage Research Group conducts research on safe and stable CO2 geological storage in deep saline aquifers for a long term and works closely with international organizations.
