Railway company Tokyu joins global RE100 renewable electricity initiative

Tokyu Corporation joined RE100 on October 25, making it the first Japanese railway company to publicly commit to using 100% renewable energy. The railway company will further its commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon society in which renewable energy production and efficient energy consumption can be achieved.

RE100 is a global leadership initiative bringing international corporations together to accelerate their commitment to achieving 100% renewable electricity. According to RE100, “Companies in the commercial and industrial sector account for approximately two-thirds of the world’s end-use of electricity.” They see the importance of collective effort to intensify initiatives against climate change by switching to renewables. As of November 2019, there are 211 international corporations from a wide range of industries in North America, Europe, India, China, Australia and Japan. RE100 members are required to have clear renewable energy goals, and their progress is reported annually to maintain the transparency and credibility of the initiative.

As a new member of RE100, Tokyu Corporation revealed its roadmap towards 100% renewable energy. Tokyu will source 100% of its electricity consumption from renewable energy by 2050 while achieving a 30% cut in CO2 emissions by 2030, and going zero-carbon completely by 2050.

Motivated by the idea of driving sustainable growth, Tokyu has been actively developing solutions that fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. We previously reported in “Tokyo gets nation’s first 100% renewable energy-powered rail line,” that Tokyu has succeeded in shifting its 94-year old urban commuter tram line to 100% renewable. The train is now being powered by geothermal and hydraulic power supplied from the Tohoku region. Internally, Tokyu has been promoting environmental awareness among employees through sustainability seminars and company awards for those who come up with environmentally-friendly solutions.

Tokyu is known to be the fifth largest railway company in Japan by market share, following East Japan Railway, Central Japan Railway, West Japan Railway and Kintetsu Railway. For a major railway company like Tokyu, taking a proactive step towards clean energy is a big deal as such moves can send a powerful message to stakeholders, policymakers and investors. Hirokazu Yamanishi, a public relations officer of Tokyu, explains that the company plans to announce a new policy proposal in collaboration with other influential companies from RE100 to further their leadership presence in the industry.