LEEN GmbH, The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (GCCIJ) and TÜV Rheinland Japan Ltd. have agreed to cooperate to bring a new service “Learning Energy Efficiency Networks (LEEN)” to Japan. The three partners’ cooperation aims at launching company-networks to increase energy efficiency in the Japanese industry. This type of energy efficiency network service is being offered in Japan for the first time.

Today, reducing energy costs is a major issue for companies. During the past decade energy prices in Japan have been increasing steadily and after the 2011 earthquake the situation has become even more severe.

The three partners will bring a novel business model from Germany to Japan. The underlying management system facilitates mutual learning of energy-saving know-how and sharing energy conservation ideas, concepts and technologies in the industry through the creation of regional networks of companies. Through these network activities, participating companies are able to reduce the loss of energy in more effective ways.

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These networks include 10 to 15 companies. The three partners are targeting Tokyo metropolitan area for their first network. LEEN’s experience is that “companies working in networks increase their efficiency twice as fast as the German industry on average. Energy efficiency investments directly effect the bottom-line of every company”, says Mirko Krück, Managing Director at LEEN GmbH. LEEN has a very successful track record, with more than 30 networks running according to their system. The more than 300 participating companies involved showed investments with an average IRR of 36% within less than three years.

The most powerful way for management to mitigate the risk of rising energy costs is to invest in energy efficiency. Tobias Schweinfurter, acting CEO at TÜV Rheinland Japan Ltd., is convinced, “that there is enough potential hidden in companies to increase efficiency by 2-3% per year and save money. Although well known for their high level of efficiency, there is much room for improvement and mutual cooperation in the Japanese industry.”

The GCCIJ has been promoting German-Japanese cooperation in the field of renewable energy, green technology and energy efficiency for several years now and has established deep knowledge and extensive networks. Therefore it is “the ideal partner to bring German knowledge to Japan” says Marcus Schürmann, Deputy Delegate of the German Industry in Japan. GCCIJ acts as a network host, and organizes and moderates network meetings. TÜV Rheinland Japan brings the necessary technological excellence and engineering know-how into this partnership. Its technical experts will conduct sight inspection, monitor facilities and provide technical advice to participating companies. LEEN offers the underlying concept “the LEEN-management system” and the respective trainings and tools for GCCIJ moderators and TÜV Rheinland Japan’s engineers. The LEEN management system received DIN EN ISO 50001 conformity.