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Fourth UTokyo Research, on site Energy Frontiers at the University of Tokyo

August 12, 2014

Switching to renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power brings with it many new problems including the management of electricity supply and demand.

Professor Shikazono introduces research at the CEE during the briefing.

© 2014 The University of Tokyo.
Professor Shikazono introduces research at the CEE during the briefing.

On Tuesday, 8 July 2014, at the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS) and the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) on the Komaba Research Campus, the fourth “UTokyo Research, on site” media tour was held on the theme of “Energy Generation, Energy Management: Energy Frontiers at the University of Tokyo.” Nine attendees (two journalists and seven attaches from foreign embassies) toured research labs on site in excellent weather, despite an approaching typhoon. The event started with a presentation of energy research at IIS and RCAST and a question and answer session followed by a short coffee break, and concluded with a tour of two research laboratories.

Briefing: Energy Research at the IIS

IIS Professor Naoki Shikazono, Director of the IIS Collaborative Research Center for Energy Engineering (CEE), described the eight research clusters being pursued at the CEE since its establishment in 2008, and introduced the concept of “circulation” of energy and material that the CEE is aiming to achieve through a cycle of production, utilization, and recuperation. As a concrete example, Professor Shikazono introduced the CEE’s research into energy circulation through use of a triple combined energy system incorporating solid oxide fuel cell, gas turbine and steam turbine.

Briefing: Renewable Energy Research at RCAST

Professor Okada introduces research at RCAST during the briefing.

© 2014 The University of Tokyo.
Professor Okada introduces research at RCAST during the briefing.

RCAST Professor Yoshitaka Okada outlined the organization and education system at RCAST and then introduced the solar cell research at the institute. In particular, research includes highly efficient quantum dot solar cells and concentrating photovoltaics and dye-sensitized organic solar cells incorporating titanium dioxide, a common material used in white paint.

Tour: Evolution of Organic Photovoltaics

Research Fellow Ludmila Cojocaru from France demonstrating the production of a dye-sensitized solar cell.

© 2014 The University of Tokyo.
Research Fellow Ludmila Cojocaru from France demonstrating the production of a dye-sensitized solar cell.

Two research laboratories were visited after the briefing, Q&A and coffee break. At Professor Hiroshi Segawa’s laboratory at RCAST, research into potential next-generation organic photovoltaics including dye-sensitized solar cells and hybrid solar panel-battery “energy-storable dye-sensitized solar cells.” On the tour, participants saw a demonstration of a dye-sensitized solar cell being manufactured there and then, and toured a facility capable of mass-production of dye-sensitized solar cells in varied designs and colors.

Tour: COMfort MAnagement House (COMMA House) ? a smart house for 2020

Exterior of COMMA House.

© 2014 The University of Tokyo.
Exterior of COMMA House.

COMMA House is a detached house constructed on the Komaba Research Campus as a research facility for energy management. IIS Associate Professor Yumiko Iwafune is conducting research into energy management using COMMA House, and demonstrated the smart house’s systems, which include monitoring systems for daily energy consumption, louvers and multiple windows to control shading and air flow in experiments, internal membrane ceilings used to retain heat on the lower floor and reduce heating cost in cold weather, and smartphone and tablet applications developed in collaboration with industry.

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