**3.1. Outline of the community energy project**

In Shinchi, in addition to reconstruction of infrastructure, the aim is to implement a future city "smart hybrid town" concept, which promotes town reconstruction with a view to benefiting the environment and society. Thus, the reconstruction plan for the area around the JR Shinchi Station, where there was major damage from the tsunami, promotes the introduction of a community energy management system (CEMS) that utilizes natural gas and other clean sources (The Smart Community Project [22, 23]).

In the Smart Community Project, natural gas from a pipeline connected to the soma liquefied natural gas base (currently under construction) will be utilized, and combined heat and power will be supplied from the natural gas CGS to facilities around Shinchi Station. The Smart Community Project involves construction of a community energy center, local heat Introduction of Low-Carbon Community Energy Systems by Combining Information Networks… http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75129 105

**Figure 4.** Locations of energy demand facilities in the area surrounding Shinchi Station (revised by authors based on reference [23]).

conduits, a community power grid, and CO2 supply pipes. In addition, solar power facilities and batteries will be introduced to public facilities. To manage these facilities integrally, CEMS will be utilized.

#### **3.2. Estimating facility energy demand**

With Shinchi's selection as a "future city," discussion regarding reconstruction began, and in March 2013, a Basic Cooperation Agreement was drawn up between Shinchi and the National Institute for Environmental Studies. The National Institute for Environmental Studies has been supporting construction of future visions, maintenance of the ICT base, and comprehensive town reconstruction, based on academic knowledge such as social communication [20, 21].

**3. Introduction of the JR Shinchi Station district community energy** 

In Shinchi, in addition to reconstruction of infrastructure, the aim is to implement a future city "smart hybrid town" concept, which promotes town reconstruction with a view to benefiting the environment and society. Thus, the reconstruction plan for the area around the JR Shinchi Station, where there was major damage from the tsunami, promotes the introduction of a community energy management system (CEMS) that utilizes natural gas and other clean

In the Smart Community Project, natural gas from a pipeline connected to the soma liquefied natural gas base (currently under construction) will be utilized, and combined heat and power will be supplied from the natural gas CGS to facilities around Shinchi Station. The Smart Community Project involves construction of a community energy center, local heat

**project system**

104 Sustainable Air Conditioning Systems

**3.1. Outline of the community energy project**

**Figure 3.** Schematic diagram of the smart hybrid town concept in Shinchi.

sources (The Smart Community Project [22, 23]).

In this investigation, projections were made regarding the energy demands of facilities in the Shinchi Station area to be served by the distributed energy system. These estimates were based on two sources of data. The first source is an existing study, the 2016 smart community adoption promotion project titled "Master Plan Formulation Project for Revitalization Community Building Centered Around the Use of Energy Produced and Consumed in Shinchi City." The second source is responses obtained during a consultation with people in Shinchi's hotel industry regarding the progress of community reconstruction. These projections are shown in **Figure 4** and **Table 1**.


**Table 1.** Demand facilities in the area surrounding Shinchi Station that are considered in this investigation.

these CGSs obtain steam using gas turbines. However, due to the small scale of this project, the CGSs in this case utilize gas engines, and the waste heat only provides hot water. In this project, cooling and heating requirements are satisfied using genelink systems to produce hot wastewater from power generation. Compared with conventional facilities, genelink systems provide a 10 to 15% increase in energy conservation. Therefore, genelink technology has the

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A CEMS is used to manage the energy consumption for the whole system and to increase the efficiency of energy use. Multiple autonomous power supplies are managed to conserve

One of the functions of the CEMS is to provide the necessary information for management of the community energy center. Cogeneration equipment is combined with multiple auxiliary heat sources and power purchased from existing power companies (grid power), thus reducing excess heat while avoiding production of unnecessary excess power. With this system, prediction of energy demands and power generation via renewable sources such as solar power becomes essential. Under such complex conditions, the information necessary for energy management personnel to make appropriate decisions is provided by the CEMS,

The second function of the CEMS is demand response control during periods of insufficient power. Demand response control is performed in three steps. The first step is battery storage control at the community energy center. The CEMS controls the charge and discharge of batteries installed at the community energy center. Batteries are charged at night, and when the power procured from the grid exceeds a threshold, it is automatically released. The second step is automatic control of the lighting in public facilities. A control signal from the CEMS is sent to lighting control devices installed in the public facilities. These devices control lighting in areas with minimal impact to users. The third step is transmission of an energy-saving request to facility staff. Facility staff control power usage through predetermined energy-saving activities such as turning off lighting and air conditioning in

The city of Tomakomai in the Hokkaido Prefecture of Japan has been using a trigeneration

stage of recruiting companies that operate agricultural facilities and preparing these facilities

concentration improves crop production in greenhouses.

can be started immediately upon completion of the company recruit-

concentration into greenhouses,

) since 2015. Presently, the project is at the

potential to be very useful, especially in Asia, where the climate is hot and humid.

**4.2. Community energy management system**

emissions.

which improves efficient operation of the community energy center.

 **by agricultural facilities**

Therefore, by sending gas engine exhaust with a high CO<sup>2</sup>

system (a system involving heat, power, and CO2

energy and to reduce CO2

unoccupied rooms.

**4.3. The use of CO2**

It is well known that increased CO2

crop growth can be promoted.

so that a supply of CO2

ment process.

**Figure 5.** Components of the regional energy center equipment (revised by authors based on reference [23]).
