The JERA Group, SMBC Group, and Yanmar Group Launch a Clean-Energy Partnership for Agriculture2025/11/26
JERA Co., Inc. (“JERA”), JERA Cross Co., Inc. (“JERA Cross”), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (“SMBC”), Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (“SMFL”), and Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. (“Yanmar”) hereby announce that they have today signed a basic agreement to collaborate in working to achieve a regional industry revitalization model centered on the local production and consumption of clean energy, and have begun studying a regional vision that will shape the future of Japan’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
In recent years, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has, through efforts such as formulation of the Basic Plan for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas, accelerated green transformation (GX) initiatives to decarbonize the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industries, improve productivity, and revitalize regional economies. Public-private efforts are also underway to boost the value-added of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and strengthen the profitability of the sector.
Through this collaboration, the partners will, starting in the Tohoku region, carry out initiatives aimed at revitalizing regional industry by creating a new, higher-value-added regional industry model that utilizes locally sourced clean energy and technology. Going forward, the companies will leverage their respective strengths as they aim to build a new model for agriculture and aquaculture that both reduces environmental impact and stimulates regional economies.
Specifically, the partners will, under the agreement, advance the green transformation (GX) across the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors by adopting electric equipment for rice and sake production, by furthering decarbonization through the use of clean energy to power such electric equipment and land-based aquaculture systems, by promoting digital transformation (DX) through the adoption of technologies such as agricultural robots, and by developing virtual power plant (VPP)* projects that combine offshore wind power and other clean energy with electric agricultural machinery.
JERA, JERA Cross, SMBC, SMFL, and Yanmar will co-create a framework that enables high value-added regional products that leverage local natural capital to be sold at fair prices. Through efforts to use clean energy to add further value to agricultural and marine products, the companies will contribute to the green transformation of regional industries and to their economic revitalization.
* Virtual power plant (VPP): A system for the remote integration and control of distributed energy resources (power generation facilities, storage batteries, electric vehicles, etc.) and demand-side equipment so that they function like a single power plant.
|
Company |
JERA Co., Inc. |
|
Title and name of representative(s) |
Global CEO and Chair: Yukio Kani |
|
Business domain |
Thermal power generation, renewable energy, gas and LNG businesses, as well as engineering and consulting related to these businesses. |
|
Role in this collaboration |
１．Development of renewable energy generation facilities, such as offshore wind power, through group companies ２．Exploration of branding and market development for carbon-free products produced through this collaboration |
|
Company |
JERA Cross Co., Inc. |
|
Title and name of representative(s) |
Representative Director and President: Kengo Ichikura |
|
Business domain |
GX-related business support services; decarbonization solutions for electricity |
|
Role in this collaboration |
１．Supply of electricity generated from JERA’s power facilities to related sites, along with carbon-free certification using power-tracking technology ２．Electricity trading and operations in VPP (virtual power plant) projects |
|
Company |
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. |
|
Title and name of representative(s) |
President and Chief Executive Officer (Representative Director): Akihiro Fukutome |
|
Business domain |
Banking services |
|
Role in this collaboration |
１．Matching with local companies in regions targeted for development that support and may serve as partners in this initiative ２．Financing necessary for the realization of this project ３．Exploration of branding and market development for carbon-free products produced through this collaboration |
|
Company |
Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Coｍpany, Limited |
|
Title and name of representative(s) |
President: Tetsuro Imaeda |
|
Business domain |
Domestic Leasing Business, Environmental and Energy Business, Real Estate Business, Transportation Business, Overseas Business, etc. |
|
Role in this collaboration |
１．Matching with local companies in regions targeted for development that support and may serve as partners in this initiative ２．Providing financing—such as leases and installment plans—for equipment necessary for the project ３．Studying circular economy schemes for electric equipment using expertise in DX and asset-tracking/return functions within leasing operations |
|
Company |
Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. |
|
Title and name of representative(s) |
President: Takehito Yamaoka |
|
Business domain |
Research, development, manufacturing, and sales in agriculture, construction equipment, marine, energy systems, and powertrains |
|
Role in this collaboration |
１．Development, demonstration, and supply of electric agricultural machinery and agricultural robots that contribute to the decarbonization of agriculture ２．Development of integrated energy management technologies that support the establishment of aquaculture systems and supply of aquaculture systems ３．Exploration of new business models, including VPPs utilizing electric agricultural machinery ４．Study of solutions incorporating new technological seeds and innovations |
Note: Information contained in the news release is valid at the time of publication and may differ from the most recently available information.