Environmental Urban Energy

Faculty

Assoc. Prof.
Takuro Kobashi

Specially appointed Prof.
Katsuhiko Naito

Specially appointed Prof.
Jusen Asuka

Assist. Prof.
Tuo Zhang

Assist. Prof.
Tao Linwei

Research Themes

1. Urban decarbonization
2. Energy transition
3. Renewable energy and hydrogen systems
4. Maximum use of rooftop PV
5. Power system modeling
6. Techno-economic assessment
7. Energy community
8. PV integrated with EVs as battery: “SolarEV City Concept”

Research contents

Amidst the rapid rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations due to the burning of fossil fuels of human origin, global warming and climate change are progressing at an alarming rate. To minimize future climate change, it is imperative to shift to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, which are becoming increasingly cost-competitive compared to fossil fuels. Our lab investigates the development pathways that enable cities around the world to achieve rapid, affordable, and deep decarbonization through solar and wind power potentially mediated by the hydrogen system.
We employ power system models and techno-economic analysis to calculate the decarbonization potentials of technologies such as solar power generation, batteries, EVs, hydrogen, energy sharing, and microgrids. We also engage in demonstration projects and action research to gain a multifaceted understanding of the social and economic challenges associated with decarbonization.

Keywords

Urban decarbonization, energy transition, energy-economic modeling,
rooftop photovoltaics, SolarEV City Concept, electric vehicles

Web

https://web.tohoku.ac.jp/tkobashi/web/

Contact

022-752-2259
takuro.kobashi.e5tohoku.ac.jp