Hokkaido Refinery Production Center Completes ZEB Conversion, Begins Full-Scale Operation

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Noriaki Sakai; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has completed the ZEB (Net Zero Energy Building)※1 conversion of its Production Center, which centrally manages operations at the Hokkaido Refinery (Location: Tomakomai City, Hokkaido; Director: Hideyuki Hara), and has commenced full-scale operations.

The Production Center has achieved an energy reduction rate of 109% during the design phase of this renovation project, earning it the 5-star "ZEB" certification under the Building Energy-efficiency Labeling System (BELS)※2. Furthermore, this renovation project, primarily involving the refurbishment of an existing building to obtain ZEB certification, represents an advanced case within Japan.

※1 A building with net zero or negative annual primary energy consumption.

※2 A system where a third-party evaluation body assesses and certifies the energy-saving performance of new and existing buildings.

Exterior of the Production Center BELS Certification Plate

The Production Center centrally manages the entire process from crude oil reception to product shipment on a 24-hour basis. It operates continuously day and night and is the facility with the largest energy consumption within the refinery. The Company has implemented renovations combining energy saving and energy generation, including the introduction of high-efficiency equipment and the installation of solar power generation facilities at this site. In addition to improving the building's energy efficiency, it also maintains indoor comfort, realizing more sustainable operations.

Compared to cases where ZEB certification is assumed from new construction, renovating an existing building involves more constraints, making the realization more challenging. This initiative, primarily focused on renovating an existing building, serves as a pioneering example for obtaining ZEB certification. It is also the largest-scale ZEB conversion renovation for existing buildings in the Northern Japan region (according to the Company's research).

In Japan, reducing energy-derived CO2 emissions (the amount of CO2 emitted from fuel combustion and the use of supplied electricity or heat) in the commercial sector is a key challenge toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The ZEB conversion of the Production Center, which operates continuously, directly addresses this societal issue.

The Company is promoting the "CNX※3 Centerization Concept" to transform existing refineries and business sites into supply bases for low/decarbonized energy and materials in its "Mid-term Management Plan (FY2026-2030)". At the Hokkaido Refinery, by improving energy efficiency through the ZEB conversion of the Production Center, the Company will aim to implement next-generation energy and solutions, such as CCS※4 for CO2 generated during the oil refining process, and the production of green hydrogen and synthetic fuels using renewable energy, and will continue to consider these initiatives.

Installed Solar Power Generation Facility ZEB Operation Monitor Screen

Main Renovation Details

1 Energy Saving Achieved Through Updating to High-Efficiency Equipment

Air conditioning, ventilation, hot water supply, and lighting used in the Production Center have been updated to high-efficiency equipment, achieving energy savings of 4,763 GJ/year and a 56% reduction in energy consumption compared to before the renovation. This has achieved over 50% energy saving from the standard primary energy consumption※5, a condition for ZEB.

2 Energy Generation Achieved Through New Installation of Solar Power Generation Facilities

After reducing energy consumption, a 726 kW solar power generation facility has been newly installed in the employee parking lot within the refinery premises to cover the remaining energy consumption.

Production Center Overview

Building Location: Tomakomai City, Hokkaido (within the Company's Hokkaido Refinery)

Building Use: Offices, etc.

Structure/Floors: Reinforced concrete, 2 stories above ground

Total Floor Area: 3,423.12 square meters

※3 Abbreviation for Carbon Neutral Transformation.

※4 Abbreviation for Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage, a technology that separates and captures CO2 and safely stores it deep underground.

※5 Primary energy consumption calculated based on the building's use, regional classification, area, etc., assuming a building equipped with standard specifications defined by energy conservation standards. It refers to the total energy consumption by equipment such as air conditioning, ventilation, lighting, hot water supply, and elevators. The "Building Energy Consumption Performance Calculation Program (Non-residential version)" published by the Building Research Institute is used for the calculation.

【Reference】

・Press Release: Hokkaido Refinery Production Center Obtains BELS Highest Rank and "ZEB" Certification (April 12, 2024)

・Press Release: Hokkaido Refinery Production Center Begins ZEB Conversion Construction (February 2, 2024)