Tokyo Broadcasting System Television Switches To 100% Renewable Energy

Starting October, TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) has moved three of its prominent locations: akasaka Sacas, Akasaka Blitz and Akasaka ACT Theater towards completely operated by renewable energy. This switch is in line with SDG Media Compact, an initiative by the United Nations.

The SDG Media Compact aims to inspire media companies from all over the world to leverage their talent and resources to achieve SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Examples of existing members include Nippon TV, The Asahi Shimbun and Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun. This time, Fuji TV, HuffPost and TBS will be joining the family.

Participating members of this initiative can form content partnerships with the United Nations where they can source and share SDG related content and opportunities. Regular review meetings will also be conducted.

TBS first started using renewable energy in December 2012 for a local transmitter station for TBS Radio located in Toda city. TBS receives its supply of renewable energy from Minna Denryoku Inc, supported by TBS Innovation Partners, TBS’s venture capital firm.

Minna Denryoku Inc is a utility company that uses blockchain technology for its electric power system. In recent years, blockchain technology has transformed the energy sector with its solutions for the distribution of renewable energy. One key benefit of blockchain technology that differentiates itself from the methods of the traditional energy industry is its ability to provide provenance tracking. Beyond that, some other main advantages include lower costs, sustainability, transparency and privacy.

The shift to an environmentally friendly source of electric power is a way for media company TBS, on top of its usual scope of journalism and news reporting, respond to global societal and environmental issues.

With a growing presence of blockchain technology in the energy market, alongside the increase in the number of companies embracing the SDG Media Compact initiative, the Japanese media industry seems to be in the right direction to becoming an eco-conscious industry.