The Government of Saskatchewan and Hitachi, Ltd. announced today that they have reached a landmark agreement with the signing of a joint declaration to work together and share information for developing energy and environmental technologies.
Electricity demand is rising worldwide, yet at the same time measures are required to combat global warming, including curbing CO2 emissions and this is a global issue. Saskatchewan is committed to protecting the environment and to promoting the sustainable use of natural resources to enhance economic and social benefits. Saskatchewan has adopted a target of a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels by 2020.
Hitachi, for its part, has set a goal of curbing 100 million tons per annum of CO2 emissions from Hitachi Group products by fiscal 2025. Hitachi is aiming to help create a low-carbon society by providing products such as nuclear power plants, renewable energy and highly efficient, coal-fired thermal power plants in the electric power generation field, which accounts for around 70 per cent of Hitachi's targeted CO2 emission reductions.
Hitachi and Saskatchewan have a 40-year co-operative relationship in the power generation field, including work on coal, natural gas and wind generation technologies. Hitachi has provided generation facilities to Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower), a power utility based in Saskatchewan. In 1988, Hitachi established Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. as a manufacturing base for power generation equipment in Saskatchewan with SaskPower, deepening its relationship with this power utility and Saskatchewan. In February 2010, SaskPower and Hitachi agreed to collaborate on the advancement and implementation of technology in the fields of low-carbon energy technologies, including Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS).
Today's agreement with Hitachi is Saskatchewan's first such agreement with an energy company in the energy and environmental technologies field and will strengthen existing and ongoing efforts to commercialize low-carbon energy technologies. Additionally, it will enable the further enhancement of energy security while assisting in the protection of the environment and natural resources.
A primary focus of this agreement is to commercialize low-carbon energy technologies that involve CCS - a field led by Saskatchewan, which is home to the world's largest monitored CCS demonstration project. The agreement also potentially benefits the energy sectors in Canada's resource-rich New West region as successful commercialization would create new demand for conventional energy resources.
Based on today's agreement, Saskatchewan and Hitachi will supply each other with information on new low-carbon energy technologies as well as co-operate in five fields: CCS technologies, AQCS (Air Quality Control Systems), boiler and steam turbine generators, renewable energy technologies and smart grid technologies.
"This agreement reinforces a healthy, well-established partnership between two world leaders in clean energy innovation," Premier Brad Wall said. "Saskatchewan is serious about clean energy innovation and about helping to set the pace internationally, not only in terms of expertise and infrastructure but also with respect to commercialization of technology. This agreement will help us jointly pursue these goals."
"I feel extremely honoured that Saskatchewan has selected Hitachi as its first private-sector partner in the energy and environmental technologies field," Hitachi President Hiroaki Nakanishi said. "Hitachi has built relationships of trust with Saskatchewan and SaskPower over many years. Based on these relationships, we are committed to stepping up efforts in fields that can utilize CCS, renewable energy and other low-carbon energy technologies in Canada, and develop this business around the world."
Hitachi and Saskatchewan will contribute to the realization of a low-carbon society and environmental and natural resource protection by promoting the development of energy and environmental technologies under this agreement.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Rebeca Rogoschewsky
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0980
Matt Takahashi
Hitachi
Japan
Phone: +81-3-5208-9324
Email: Masahiro.takahashi.rh@hitachi.com