HSI Report: SDGs Field Study ーEnergy Security in Cold ClimateRegion
University News | August 26, 2022
Japan is not a stranger to natural disasters, notably
earthquakes and typhoons. The 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi
Earthquake precipitated a large-scale blackout affecting theevacuation and recovery process. Reflecting upon the pastexperiences, the participants of this course learned what it
takes to maintain stable and secure energy for disaster
preparedness.

Students receiving explanations about hot water supply in a field trip to Hokkaido GasCompany.

Associate Professor Taro Mori (Faculty of Engineering) facilitated thecourse which was held in a hybrid mode from August 1st to 5th, 2022.

Three guest lecturers: Takafumi Nogawa (Hokkaido Electric Power Co.,Inc.), Professor Ivo Martinac (KTH Royal Institute of Technology), andDr. Sadaike Yuki (Tohoku University) shared their expert insights andexperience on energy and disaster preventions. These laid the basic
knowledge for the participants’ that were useful for the latter sessionsof the course.
“In cold climates, when the energy supply is disrupted during severe
cold weather, life faces a crisis. Buildings and energy systems need tobe carefully planned to avoid such a situation. Through this program,students will learn what can happen in the event of a disaster and what
technologies are available to mitigate such a situation,” said Associate
Professor Mori.
Participation in this course does not require engineering and/or
technical background, as exemplified by Jin Tian, a student fromBeijing Normal University who attended the course remotely. “Mymain field of study is education, so being from a non-engineering
background is a challenge because I lacked the knowledge of sometechnical terms. But I am always interested in SDGs. I enjoyed theHinan-jo Un-ei Game (HUG) the best, but the overall course enriched
my knowledge about energy.”

HUG (Hinan-jo Un-ei Game; Evacuation Site Management Game) activity in class. In
this case study, students were challenged to come up with the best possible solution ofmanaging an evacuation site for different types of families in a scenario where adisaster hits.

Associate Professor Mori arranged two separate one-day field trips sothat students could learn and witness the practical applications ofenergy management and conservation. First, they visited a net Zero
Energy Building (ZEB) near the Sapporo Campus area, a branch officeof Daidan Company.
The technical staff guided the participants around the building,explaining in depth the building’s energy management. The totalenergy consumption of the entire building was reduced by 50% (of thebuilding’s total energy usage in 2013) to tackle climate change. To
supply the remaining 50%, the building was meticulously designed touse renewable energy, such as allowing natural lighting and airconditioning. To power the electricity and heating, rooftop solar panelsand ground thermal heat pumps were installed.

Field trip to a net ZEB of Daidan Company in North Ward, Sapporo City.

The second field trip was made to the energy center of Hokkaido Gas
Company in Sapporo City. A part of Kitagas Group, the energy centerhas a main role in supplying electricity and water to its surroundingarea, including to the Kitagas Arena Gymnasium. From the staff’sexplanation, participants learned about the Community Energy
Management System (CEMS). In this principle, customers of thecompany are encouraged to conserve energy through visualization ofenergy consumption, using big data to forecast the usage, etc.

Participants observing the insides of a core electricity generator of Hokkaido GasCompany.

Concluding the course, each student presented energy security
initiatives in their area of origin, in respect of the regional naturalresources, governmental policy, and the most common disaster. The
variety of scenarios gave opportunities for discussions and reflections.
Jerric Delfin is a master’s student from the Graduate School ofEngineering, Hokkaido University. Although the situation faced by his
country of origin, the Philippines, is different from Hokkaido, heclaimed that both regions have the same need within the context ofdisaster: to reduce the damage and to expedite restoration. “Learningsteady energy supply is important for my research that focuses on thethermoacoustic instability of a carbon-neutral fuel in combustors. So, I
am now more inspired to work harder,” said Delfin.

To learn more about Hokkaido Summer Institute, visit their website:
https://hokkaidosummerinstitute.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/
Written by Aprilia Agatha Gunawan