The Gift of White: A Journey through Snow, Ice, and Cold from 209 to the 2000s

The Gift of White: A Journey through Snow, Ice, and Cold from 209 to the 2000s

Natural cold-thermal systems utilizing snow and ice have been quietly but surely making their way into our daily lives. In Hokkaido, Niigata, and other regions that receive abundant winter blessings, the coldness of the snow is attracting attention as the next generation of energy.

In Hokkaido, the number of installations has been increasing at a rate of three to four per year since fiscal 2003, more than tripling over the past decade. Initiatives that began at public facilities and agricultural storage facilities gradually spread to the private sector.

In 2006, Toyota Motor Hokkaido in Tomakomai City, followed by Denso Electronics in Chitose City in 2007, introduced snow cooling for air conditioning. The idea of storing snow and utilizing its cool air in the summer has gained much support as a technology that makes the most of local nature.

The Hokkaido Green Energy DC Study Group, a collaboration of NTT Communications, Fujitsu, Ricoh, Muroran Institute of Technology, and others, has launched the White Data Center concept. This is a grand attempt to reduce energy used for air conditioning by up to 90% by combining snow and ice cooling in addition to outdoor air cooling and free cooling.

At New Chitose Airport, a cooling system constructed on the occasion of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit is in operation. Two tons of snow is stored after each snow removal, and the melted water is used to cool the terminal building. Three out of five air conditioners are powered by the snow, reducing the power consumption of the air conditioning system by 70 to 90%.

In Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture, "Guidelines for Building Snow-Cooled Thermal Energy Homes (tentative title)" are being formulated based on experiments conducted in private homes. The introduction of this system in ordinary homes is being considered, and is expected to work with the local economy and construction companies.

These efforts are positioned as symbolic of the shift to natural energy while addressing the growing demand for cooling due to the effects of global warming. In FY2009, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was considering snow and ice cooling as a target for the Green Heat Certificate Program.



Current Status in Hokkaido, Japan 2008's

Snow, ice, and cold technology is still alive and well in Hokkaido. New Chitose Airport stores over 70,000 tons of snow and uses it for air conditioning in the summer. The high energy efficiency of this technology has earned it a high reputation both in Japan and abroad.

In Sapporo, 3,000 cubic meters of snow is stored at the Glass Pyramid in Moerenuma Park. The snow is used to cool the museum, leading to a reduction of more than 30 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. At Yamaguchi Municipal Crematorium, snow is brought into storage to cover 40% of the museum's cooling load.

In addition, Maruyama Zoo has installed a snow cooling system for the red pandas. At JA Bibai's "Snow Storage Studio" in Bibai City, 360 tons of snow is used to store brown rice at low temperatures, reducing power consumption to less than half that of conventional systems.

In addition, data center cooling technology is underway to take advantage of the cool climate. The white data center concept has since deepened and opened up new possibilities in server cooling.



Related Information

Ministry of the Environment "Outline of Renewable Energy Heat Utilization Technology
TDK "Introduction of Snow Cooling System
J-STAGE "Snow and Ice Refrigeration Utilization Report in Hokkaido
Case Study of New Chitose Airport's Cooling System
Japan Agricultural Research Institute "Utilization of Snow and Ice Refrigeration for Agricultural Product Storage" ・Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism "Snow and Ice Refrigeration System Overview
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism "Guidelines for Snow Cooling Systems
Hakuba Village and Niseko Town's measures and local case studies



Snow is not just a white powder that piles up. Once considered a nuisance, it is now a gentle force that cools people and the earth. The future brought about by its tranquility and coldness is unexpectedly warm.