Foreword
About This Special Editionof Global WarmingCountermeasures
Director, Executive Vice President,General Manager, Technical Headquarters

SUNAO AOKIGlobal warming is the most important issue of the 21stcentury and could well undermine the foundations of oursociety in that economic growth has been based on fossil
energy.
The demand for energy is increasing around the world,
especially in the rapidly developing countries of Brazil,
R ussia , I ndia a nd Chi na ( BR ICs), whose rema rkableeconomic growth presages a continued increase in theamount of emitted greenhouse gases.
If economic growth continues to be our major priority,
climate change and environmental destruction will be
unavoidable, greatly af fecting human life and severely
impairing economic growth itself because of the enormous
costs involved.
To combat this situation and its long-term implications,the international community is searching for an effective
framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while
maintaining economic growth.
The increase in energy demand and concomitant rise inoil prices have demonstrated to the international community
the importance of stable energy supplies. We must reduce
our degree of dependence on the reserves of expensive oiland turn to the clean use of coal, which is abundant andinexpensive, as well as increase our use of safe nuclear power
and renewable energy sources.
The economy, energy resources and the environment areinterconnected in global warming; this constitutes a problem
that cannot be solved simply by reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. Instead, we must construct a social system
based on “ T he 3Es” of achieving sustainable economic
growth, energy securit y and environmental protection,
si mult a neously. I n novat ion i n env i ron ment a l energ ytechnology is also required to implement “The 3Es” system.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., (MHI) has contributed
to Japan’s position as the world’s most advanced energysaving society through its achievement of a stable energy
supply by providing environmental- and energy-related

products, such as power generation plants.
This special edition introduces ideas from MHI on how toconstruct a “3Es” society, using proven technology that offers
effective global warming countermeasures.
F i r st , we prov ide a n over v iew of re cent t rends i nenvironmental energ y issues, propose a framework for“3Es” development cooperation between Japan and Asia, andsuggest an idea for a linked group of low-carbon liquid fuelproducers.
Next, we introduce the improvements MHI has achieved in
the efficiency of thermal power generation systems throughthe effective use of fossil energy, which is the nucleus of thepower generation sector. We also introduce the GTCC (gasturbine combined cycle), which emits lower amounts of CO2 ,the IGCC (integrated coal gasification combined cycle),which burns coal cleanly, improved engine efficiency, fuel-celldevelopment advances, and CO2 recovery technology.
We then introduce MHI’s initiatives in expanding the useof nuclear energy through the development of a nuclear fuelcycle and a fast-breeder reactor. Nuclear energy is key toreducing greenhouse gases and achieving a stable energy
source.
Next, we describe the renewable energ y technolog yand products that MHI has developed and put to practicaluse, including wind, solar and geothermal power devices,a biomass gasification system and a biomass carbonization
system.
Finally we describe the centrifugal chiller that MHI
developed to improve efficiency in the end-user sector, amodal shift in a new transportation system, and the use of ITS
to control traffic jams and thus reduce CO2 .
MHI is determined to fight global warming and achieve a“3Es” society by supplying new energy and systems solutions
through continued technological innovation.
We thank you for your continued interest in, and support
for, MHI.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol. 45 No. 1 (Mar. 2008)