While businesses aimed at realizing a carbon-free society are expected to be new growth fields, there are active movements among major trading companies to collaborate with overseas companies and funds engaged in businesses such as renewable energy.
Mitsui has decided to invest approximately 77 billion yen in Japanese yen and acquire more than 27% of the shares in a company that operates a power generation business using wind power and solar power under the umbrella of a major energy company in Norway.
The company plans to expand its business in Latin America, Africa and Asia over the next decade, with a 25GW power generation project that accounts for about a quarter of the total power consumption of Japan's total households.
Regarding this investment, Koichi Wakana, Executive Officer and General Manager of the Project Division, said, "By gaining know-how on the construction and operation of power generation facilities, we would like to contribute to the spread of renewable energy in Japan."
In addition to this, Marubeni has partnered with a subsidiary of British oil giant BP to jointly work on offshore wind power generation in Japan, and ITOCHU does not emit carbon dioxide even if it is burned. We have decided to participate in a French fund that invests in hydrogen-related businesses, which are expected to be the next generation of energy.
As the solution of climate change issues becomes a global issue, major Japanese trading companies are actively moving around the decarbonization-related business, which is expected to be a new growth field.