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Notice of Change of Representative Director

Notice of Change of Representative Director  

April 1st, 2024
GPSS Engineering Inc.

We would like to report the following personnel changes effective from April 1st.

Takahiro Kurata, 
Former title: Representative Director and Chairman
New title: Representative Director

Tomofumi Ono, 
Former title: Representative Director
New title: Director  

Together with our executive officers, we will continue to devote ourselves to the development of the company's business, and we look forward to your continued support and patronage.
We would like to express our best wishes by publishing this on our website. 

GPSS Engineering
Takahiro Kurata, Representative Director 

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GPSS Group, Japan, and CYTOK GmbH, Germany, agree on exclusive partnership

GPSS Group, Japan, and CYTOK GmbH, Germany, agree on exclusive partnership

Two innovative companies are sending a clear signal to strengthen Japanese-German economic relations. Through a cooperation agreement, they combine know-how, performance and market access and thus open up new markets.

May 29, 2023
GPSS Holdings Inc.

GPSS Group is a corporate group that aims to realize a sustainable society through energy supply business using sustainable resources such as solar, wind, small and medium-sized hydropower, geothermal, and biogas.
We consider untapped natural potentials such as water, wind, and heat in local communities as “commons*,” and under the slogan ” Beginning from the local community” we establish joint energy supply projects with communities to make society sustainable.（https://gpssgroup.jp/home_en/）

*The term “commons” refers to resources that are the property of the entire society and should be maintained and managed together.

The German CYTOK GmbH is an innovative technology company and one of the few system suppliers for power-to-gas energy systems that deliver green electricity, heating and cooling from renewable sources. The globally patented technology includes an emission-free energy storage system that uses a power-to-gas technology developed in Rostock in northeastern Germany. (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cytok/)

GPSS Engineering Japan, a member of the GPSS Group, and CYTOK GmbH have agreed to form an exclusive partnership.

Following intensive and very trustful talks, the managing directors Tomofumi Ono of GPSS and Martin Weiss as well as Klaus Schirmer of CYTOK signed a strong and long-term partnership agreement. The agreement offers both partners the opportunity to combine their strengths in the field of innovative and sustainable plant development and thus to make field-tested power-to-gas systems available to the market.

“It is our mutual objective to set a strong signal in the fight against climate change with the combined know-how of both companies in order to keep our planet livable for future generations,” said the managing directors of CYTOK.

Takahiro Kurata, Co-CEO of the GPSS Group, said, “We would like to contribute to the world by expanding CYTOK’s technology, which is already in use in Germany, to Asia”.

CYTOK’s technology uses generated green electricity 100% decentralized on site, achieving a very high degree of utilization. This is made possible by the power-to-gas component, which enables the storage of large capacities of energy. The CYTOK system converts the green hydrogen generated in the first step without storage directly into green methane. This allows the use of existing and economical components from the natural gas technology without costly adaptations for hydrogen. This solution can be deployed immediately for the existing infrastructure and is redundant to the existing power and gas networks.

The CO2 required for methanation according to the Sabatier process is kept in a closed loop. It is captured and stored from the combustion of the self-generated methane and then used again and again in the production of methane. As a result, no CO2 emissions are produced despite the combustion of green natural gas. Furthermore, due to a special combustion process, no nitrogen oxides or fine dust are produced – the patented process is completely emission-free.

CYTOK’s sustainable energy solutions

GPSS will receive from CYTOK the exclusive right to market the patented technology in Japan, Taiwan and possibly later in other Asian countries. In addition, CYTOK will transfer its know-how and experience from the planning, installation, and commissioning of the complex plants to the new Japanese partner. GPSS thus has a unique selling point in the Asian region. In return, CYTOK receives a strong and reliable partner and, thanks to their excellent market knowledge and contacts in Asia, market access to a new mega market.

Initial pilot projects with the innovative technology are already in the planning phase and will be launched in further joint steps over the next few months.

Both companies are delighted with the new partnership and the opportunities it opens up for both of them.

Contacts
GPSS Group
PR/Communication Group
Email: pr@gpss.jp

Cytok GmbH
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cytok/

by eng_gpss

First in Japan! The GPSS Group Solar Sharing with Cacao Cultivation

News Release

January 27, 2021

First in Japan!
The GPSS Group Solar Sharing with Cacao Cultivation

The GPSS Group is a corporate group which invests in a wide range of power generation projects that produce sustainable energy, including solar, wind, small and medium-sized hydropower, geothermal, and biogas. Other business areas include project structuring, investment management, engineering, and energy resource research.

The GPSS Group, together with Local Landscape Co., Ltd. which grows cacao and manufactures and sells original chocolate, in Fukuchihara, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, has started a solar-sharing power generation business "Sustaina-Cacao".

Solar sharing, which enables both crop cultivation and solar power generation by placing solar panels on farmland, is attracting attention as a next-generation form of farmland utilization.
Since the start of the permit system for the agricultural land conversion in 2013, the recognition of this system has gradually increased, and various crops such as vegetables, rice (paddy rice), and fruits have been produced through solar sharing, but solar sharing with cacao cultivation is the first in Japan.

Masaaki Mezaki, the group's CEO, said, "Most cacao is grown in tropical regions. It is not well known how difficult it is to grow cacao in Japan, and that cacao is sensitive to direct sunlight. Located in the south of Japan, Okinawa is also blessed with a great deal of sunshine. Solar sharing with cacao cultivation in Okinawa is also a good fit because the solar panels provide shade”.

“Sustaina-Cacao” Solar Power Plant

Cacao is a fruit tree that grows in the hot and humid tropics between latitudes 20 degrees north and 20 degrees south across the equator (the so-called cacao belt). Okinawa is located at 26 degrees north latitude, slightly outside the cacao belt, but Local Landscapes is aiming to create people with well-being, communities, and chocolate through cacao cultivation unique to Okinawa through repeated trial and error.

GPSS Group sympathizes with Local Landscapes' idea of "contributing to the discovery of local resources, the creation of local industries, and ultimately the realization of a sustainable society through our own actions” and has decided to support OKINAWA CACAO with its own solar sharing know-how.

Group CEO, Mr. Mezaki said, "Encountering people like Mr. Kawai, the President of Local Landscapes, who is passionate about realizing a sustainable society, has led us to another new power generation business. We will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by providing our expertise to many people who share our goals.

The "Sustaina-Cacao" power generation has already delivered its energy to Okinawa via Okinawa Electric Power Company on August 11, 2020.

■Inquiry about this news release
PR team at GPSS Group
Email ：pr@gpss.jp

Attachment 1.
[GPSS Group's Solar Sharing]
The GPSS Group, using its own know-how, has already conducted solar sharing projects with grass cultivation in Shikabe and Mitsuishi in Hokkaido, and these two power generation facilities, like “Sustaina Cacao”, are managed and operated by Mirai Society Inc. which is a member of GPSS Group.

The Solar Power Plant in Shikabe

The Solar Power Plant in Mitsuishi

Attachment 2.
[OKINAWA CACAO at Valentine's World in Matsuya Department Store in Ginza]
The theme for Matsuya Ginza's Valentine's Day in 2021 is "Traveling Valentine".
Under the pandemic, you can't travel, so chocolates from all over Japan will be gathered under the concept of enjoying Valentine's Day as if you were "traveling".
OKINAWA CACAO, which will make its first appearance in a department store, will be exhibited as a sustainable chocolate.
https://store.matsuya.com/search/index.html?condCidTop=vd&q=OKINAWA%20CACAO%E3%80%80#reorder

Attachment 3.
[Overview of Sustaina-Cacao Power Generation Facility]
(1) Power plant name: Genka Fukujibaru Solar Power Plant
(2) Location: Fukujibaru, Genka, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
(3) Operator: GPSS Holdings Inc.
(4) Farm management: Mirai Society Inc.
(4) Rated output: Approx. 50 kW
(5) Annual power generation: Approx. 600 kW
(6) Start of power generation: August 11, 2020
(7) Facility design: GPSS Engineering Inc.
(8) Construction: Takunan Factory Co., LTD

Attachment 4.
[Stakeholder overview]
Local Landscape. Co., Ltd
Company name: Local Landscape. Co., Ltd
Representative: Kei Kawai
Establishment: March 28, 2016
Capital: 3 million yen
Headquarters: 555 Tagari, Ogimi-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan
Business: Cacao cultivation and research, chocolate production, and sixth industrialization business
Official website: https://okinawacacao.com/

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GDI and TICA Thermal to supply medium-and large-scale EXERGY binary generators

Press Release

May 20, 2020
Geothermal Development & Investment Inc.

GDI and TICA Thermal to supply
medium-and large-scale EXERGY binary generators

Geothermal Development & Investment Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Tomofumi Ono, hereinafter referred to as ‘GDI ‘) has signed a distributor agreement with TICA Thermal of TICA Group, a major Chinese air-conditioning manufacturer, for medium and large binary generators *1 from EXERGY International Srl (hereinafter referred to as ‘EXERGY’).

Binary generator of EXERGY

※ 1: Binary power generation is a system in which heat is exchanged to a medium with a boiling point lower than that of water (CFC substitute, silicon oil, etc.), and the turbine, etc. is rotated by a vaporized medium to generate electric power. It is said to be binary power generation because it generates power using two thermal cycles, a heat source system and a medium system, and this cycle is called ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle).

■ Background to distributorship agreement

GDI invests in geothermal power projects, creates, and operates geothermal power projects in collaboration with local communities, and designs and operates geothermal power plants. The company also imports and sells generators and various equipment from overseas.

Recently, the acquisition of EXERGY by TICA Thermal has resulted in the expansion of its product scope, enabling TICA Thermal to offer medium and large ORC power systems (binary generators) from 1MW to 28MW per unit to the market.

This conclusion of a dealer contract with TICA Thermal means that GDI will be an authorized distributor in Japan for binary generators developed and manufactured by EXERGY.

■ Distribution Agreement contents

The binary generators handled so far by GDI were U.S. Electratherm (75kW, 120kW) and Chinese TICA (280kW). However, with the addition of EXERGY (1MW-28MW), GDI will be the only Japanese company that can handle all the types of binary power generation: small, medium, and large. GDI will take advantage of this strength to promote the further dissemination of geothermal and unused industrial waste heat power generation and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

■ About EXERGY

With its technological capabilities and high level of adaptability, EXERGY ranks third in the world in binary generators, with a total installed capacity of more than 470MW.

EXERGY's core strength comes from its unique, multistage, highly efficient Radial Outflow Technology (ROT), which can achieve efficiencies of up to 30%, the world's highest level for binary generators. With its unique ROT technology, EXERGY has developed 2 pressure level vapor application with single turbine disk, offering up to 20% more power than other technology. Besides, a distinctive and patented design of built-in mechanical group that is intended to maintain longer life of bearing can significantly reduce downtime of system, offering higher availability year-round.

Although a few types of refrigerants are normally used, EXERGY have used 11 different types of refrigerants in its projects, while keeping testing new fluids for future utilization. This has enabled us to accommodate temperatures ranging from 90°C to 350°C, from a variety of applications, including geothermal power generation, factory waste heat power generation, biomass power generation, and solar thermal power generation.

■ Stakeholder Overview

(1) EXERGY

Company Name : EXERGY International Srl
Representative : Jiang Li
Established In : 2011
Capital : 5,010,000.00 Euro
Head Office : Via Santa Rita, 21057, Olgiate Olona (VA), Italy
Businesses : EXERGY was founded by Claudio Spadacini and in 2011 became a subsidiary of the Italian Maccaferri Industrial Group that backed its growth year on year allowing EXERGY to achieve an ORC fleet of 400 MWe worldwide in less than a decade. In 2019 EXERGY started a new course being acquired by China’s Nanjing TICA Thermal Technology Co. Ltd. With this new strategic alliance EXERGY is today able to offer the global market a vast and competitive range of clean-technologies and green power generation solutions.
Website : http://exergy-orc.com/

(2) Geothermal Development & Investment Inc.

Company Name : Geothermal Development & Investment Inc.
Representative : Tomofumi Ono
Established In : March, 2015
Capital : 47 million yen
Head Office : 105-0014 Shibakoen ND Building 6F, 2-5-10 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Businesses : investment in geothermal power generation projects, etc.
Website : https://www.chinetsu.com/en/company.html

(３) TICA

Company Name: Nanjing TICA Thermal Technology Co., Ltd.
Representative : Jiang Li
Established In : 2016
Capital : 100 million USD
Head Office : No. 6, Hengye Road, Economic and Technological Development Zone, Nanjing, China.
Businesses : TICA Thermal, established in 2016 as a member of TICA Group, is dedicated to thermal energy utilization using Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology. It focuses on ORC research & development, manufacturing, after sales service, investment, and energy management services etc.
Website : http://global.ticachina.com/en/

■ Inquiries regarding this release

GPSS Public Relations Office
Email : pr@gpss.jp
TEL : 03-6435-2391

[GPSS Group]
Based on the corporate philosophy of ‘Realizing a Sustainable Society by Utilizing Sustainable Energy,’ GPSS Group, develops, arranges, and invests in power generation projects using sustainable energy.

by eng_gpss