Towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable society

Today, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and the Okinawa Electric Power Company, Incorporated (OEPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote collaboration between OIST and OEPC. OIST and OEPC will proceed with information exchange and discussions to establish a multi-layered coalition, with approval from both parties' executive levels and the management levels of research and development projects.

The memorandum outlines the following key objectives:

1. Research and innovation in sustainable energy to achieve carbon neutrality.
2. Joint development of advanced research and new technologies contributing to carbon neutrality.
3. Construction of a sustainable energy demonstration platform in Okinawa.
4. Other related matters contributing to the interests of both parties.

During the signing ceremony on March 21, 2024, President and CEO Karin Markides of OIST said that "Through this MOU, OIST envisions serving as a platform, testbed, and gathering space for a diverse set of local, national, and international stakeholders to come together in pre-competitive partnerships to develop and implement cutting-edge technologies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. By fostering open collaboration with local stakeholders like OEPC, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to drive meaningful change."

President Hiroyuki Motonaga of OEPC stated enthusiastically that "OEPC has announced our roadmap to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and we are committed to fulfillling our social responsibility as an energy provider by working towards carbon neutrality for all of Okinawa. We hope that by collaborating with OIST and leveraging our joint strengths, we can address new challenges and create initiatives to accelerate the realization of carbon neutrality and contribute to solving energy-related problems faced by other island communities around the world."

You can see the photos of the signing ceremony here.