Anjo Plant to Save Energy with MHI Thermal Systems’ Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

Aisan Industry, through Obayashi Corp., placed an order with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems (MHI Thermal Systems) for a large-scale Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) system to provide air conditioning at its Anjo Plant. The ETI-Z25.HP centrifugal chiller has a cooling capacity of 234 refrigeration tons (RT)—823 kW per unit—and supplies both hot and cold water. This ATES implementation project will begin in winter 2025 and represents MHI Thermal Systems’ first practical application outside the Kansai region.

ATES System

The ATES System uses gravel and groundwater from deep subsurface aquifers as a large-scale heat storage tank. This energy-efficient method allows the system to:

• Use cold waste heat from winter heating for summer cooling
• Use warm waste heat from summer cooling for winter heating

Using high-efficiency centrifugal chillers and control technologies, such as automatic switching of optimal operating modes, may reduce yearly CO₂ emissions by approximately 50%. The system uses HFO-1233zd refrigerant, which has the lowest global warming potential to minimize its environmental impact. Overall, the system offers energy-saving performance, optimal control technology, and improved operational performance.

ATES system illustration; image credit: MHI Thermal Systems

Due to these features, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment for the Fiscal 2023 awarded the ATES system under the Subsidy for CO₂ Emission Control Measures Project Expenses.

Anjo Plant

Aisan Industry’s Anjo Plant, whose construction will be handled by Obayashi Corp., has three primary aims:

• Reach carbon neutrality across plant infrastructure
• Establish a high value-added work style
• Provide additional, unrealized value

The plant is also pursuing the construction and operation of 24-hour fully automated lines, leveraging logistics, collaboration with robotics during production, and quality assurance that uses digital data and IoT. MHI Thermal Systems’ ATES will assist Aisan in its energy circulation and carbon-neutrality initiatives.

More MHI News

In October 2024, MHI Thermal Systems signed an agreement with Empower to supply large-scale centrifugal chillers for district cooling plants in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Per the agreement, MHI Thermal Systems will deliver 18 advanced chillers, ready for delivery by 2025, with an aggregate cooling capacity of 56,250 RT.

Empower will operate the chillers in three district cooling system plants, supplying chilled water for cooling to residential, commercial, healthcare, educational, and multi-use projects. The agreement also includes a provision enabling Empower to increase the order size, potentially raising the total capacity to 100,000 RT. Delivery will begin sequentially from 2025, bringing Empower’s total number of chillers to 46 units.

Also, in late October, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery and Equipment Co. (MHI-MME) and Jiangsu Masada Heavy Industries finalized a licensing agreement for the manufacture and sale of MET turbochargers: an exhaust gas turbine-type turbocharger for two-stroke marine engines. Jiangsu Masada will begin manufacturing the turbochargers in 2025 with an initial focus on assembly, eventually expanding to full-scale production.

Prior to the MET turbocharger, MHI-MME developed the non-water-cooled turbocharger in 1965—since then, high-efficiency and high-capacity models have been added to the portfolio. The total cumulative production volume of MET turbochargers reached 45,000 units, which accounts for over 40% of the global market for units installed in marine two-stroke engines. Previously, Jiangsu Masada and MHI-MME completed licensing agreements for deck cranes in 2008 and steering gears and deck machinery in 2012.