In response to climate change issues including global warming, Toshiba Group is promoting measures to mitigate their effects by reducing GHG emissions. At the same time, we are also developing adaptation measures to prepare for the effects of climate change, such as weather radars, rainwater drainage systems, disaster prevention information systems, and hydrogen-based autonomous energy supply systems.
Case: Solutions that Contribute to Reducing Risks of Rain Water such as Floods
Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
In recent years, due to localized heavy rain and localized torrential downpour as a result of the impact of global warming and heat island phenomenon, the likelihood of flood damage is increasing.
Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation has developed (1) a real-time flood hazard map provision system that predicts locations of possible flooding and water levels in real time by using AI based on water level data collected from water gauges with a built-in wireless communication function and battery installed in sewers as well as weather data and ground rainfall gauge data measured and distributed by public institutions and (2) a control technology that reduces flood risk by predicting the amount of rainwater inflow into pump stations and dynamically changing the water levels to start and stop rainwater pumps based on that, reduces the maintenance costs of rainwater pumps, and mitigates the load on the operators.
By utilizing these system and control technologies, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation will adapt to climate change and contribute to creating towns where people can continue to live with security.
![[image]Rainwater Countermeasures that Contribute to Reducing Risks such as Floods](/content/toshiba/ww/environment/corporate/climate/earth-4/_jcr_content/root/contentsArea/mainarea/layoutcontainer_copy/layoutcontainer/layoutcontainer/image.coreimg.png/1669964807455/case1-1.png)
Case: Multi parameter phased array weather radar
Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
In recent years, immense damage due to local heavy rain (so-called “guerrilla rainstorms”) and tornadoes caused by climate change have become serious social problems, and it is predicted that their frequency and scale will increase in the future. In Japan, the Climate Change Adaptation Act was enacted in June 2018 in response to these circumstances. The Act requires the central and local governments and companies to actively facilitate adaptation measures in preparation for climate change risks.
Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation participated in the “Reinforcement of Resilient Disaster Prevention and Natural Disaster Reduction Function” project of the SIP*1 as a research group member, and developed the world’s first*2 practical “multi-parameter phased array weather radar (MP-PAWR)”.
The MP-PAWR features the latest phased array antenna instead of a conventional reflecting mirror. By simply rotating the antenna one turn, it can capture 3D data of rain clouds in the area up to an altitude of around 15 km in 30 sec in a 60 km radius or one minute in an 80 km radius. In addition, as a result of mounting the high-precision precipitation observation function, the MP-PAWR can now observe signs and precipitation of guerrilla rainstorms faster and at higher precision than conventional weather radars. Since it can observe a rapidly developing cumulonimbus cloud and predict local heavy rain and tornado hazard 20 to 30 minutes beforehand at high precision, the MP-PAWR is expected to be a means for disaster prevention and natural disaster reduction.
*1: SIP
The cross-ministerial strategic innovation promotion program. A project established by the Cabinet Office and the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation to achieve innovation in the science technology area in 2014.
*2: The world’s first practical MP-PAWR
As a phased array radar specially designed for weather observation that features a dual polarization function to transmit and receive horizontally polarized waves and vertically polarized waves at the same time as well as a real-time processing function for digital beam forming (DBF) that can observe more than ten directions at the same time.
Radar antenna system
MP-PAWR radome installed in Saitama University
Case: Virtual Power Plant (VPP) that generates power by a set of controlling storage batteries
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation is working with Yokohama City and TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc. to conduct a field experiment that aims to test a system designed to utilize storage batteries installed at local disaster prevention centers as “virtual power plants” to help electricity retailers adjust electricity demand (demand response) during normal times as well as to utilize such batteries as power sources for disaster prevention to keep telecommunication facilities operating for several days during an emergency. This field experiment aims to realize timely electricity usage to avoid excess supply of photovoltaic power and other dispersed energy. To this end, multiple storage batteries with capacities of approximately 10 kWh are controlled as a group to be charged and discharged in tandem with price fluctuations in the wholesale electricity market in real time.
![[Image] Virtual power plant](/content/toshiba/ww/environment/corporate/climate/earth-4/_jcr_content/root/contentsArea/mainarea/layoutcontainer_copy_1292935722/layoutcontainer/layoutcontainer/image.coreimg.gif/1669714060616/02.gif)
We will promote adaptation measures in business activities by tailoring them to the regional characteristics of each of our business sites. These measures include raising the floor where equipment is installed in case of disasters such as floods and typhoons and installing green walls to conserve energy and tackle extreme heat.