Showcasing examples of carbon credit creation using satellite data
Green Carbon, Inc. (CEO: Jun Okita, hereinafter referred to as “Green Carbon”) is pleased to announce its participation in the Thailand Space Week 2024, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 7 (Thursday) to 9 (Saturday). The event was hosted by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA)※1. During the event, Green Carbon introduced its efforts to utilize satellite data for the creation of carbon credits from natural sources.
◆ Event Overview
Thailand Space Week is the largest space-related event in Asia, with a key focus on programs related to Japan-Thailand space cooperation. The theme of this event is “Converging Technologies, Connecting People,” which aimed to promote access to space technology and geospatial information, while also providing a platform for leaders, experts, businesses, and investors in the space sector to network. Over the course of the three-day event, exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and networking sessions were held to share insights on the latest developments in space technology, as well as its application in agriculture, natural resources, disaster management, and environmental conservation
〈Overview〉
Organizer ：Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA）
Co-organizers ：ispace Inc.、Cabinet Office of Japan、Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand(EGAT)、PTT Group、ECURS、Siemens、Thaicom
Dates ：November 7 ~ November 9, 2024
Location ：IMPACT Muang Thong Thani (Bangkok)
URL ：https://tsw.gistda.or.th/index.php
〇 Left: Event highlights, Right: Green Carbon event booth
◆ Background in Participation for the Event
Green Carbon is dedicated to creating nature-based carbon credits primarily in Southeast Asia. Our initiatives include a wide range of projects such as forest conservation, rice paddy management, mangrove reforestation, reducing methane emissions from cattle, and biochar projects. In Thailand, we are focused on methane gas reduction in rice paddies using AWD(Alternate Wetting and Drying※2) techniques and carbon sequestration soil through biochar projects. Additionally, Green Carbon has been selected for the “JAXA Daichi-2(ALOS-2) Business Demonstration”※3 project, and is committed to utilizing satellite data for carbon credit creation. With these initiatives in mind, we participated in the exhibition for the “Japan Pavilion” during the event.
During the presentation, Green Carbon introduced its ongoing projects, including those in Thailand, and highlighted the challenges involved in creating carbon credits from natural sources. We also shared our efforts and solutions for addressing these challenges.
Detailed Content of Presentation
Challenges in creating carbon credits from natural sources
① Challenges in identifying suitable project locations
The ability to assess whether a project can be implemented depends on factors such as the availability of necessary equipment and the condition of the land. Some information can only be gathered by visiting the site, leading to increased costs for identifying suitable locations. This remains a key challenge.
② Challenges in monitoring
In Green Carbon’s methane emission reduction project for rice paddies, the amount of actual reduction is measured manually. Similarly, monitoring requires visually checking and recording water levels. This manual process increases costs while posing challenges in ensuring transparency.
③ Challenges from carbon credit creation to selling carbon credits
The process of creating, registering, and selling carbon credits is complex. Implementing projects which comply with the methodologies of various certification bodies, collecting data, and submitting documentation all require significant effort, which adds to the complexity of the credit creation process.
Green Carbon’s proposed solutions
To address these challenges, Green Carbon is working on establishing project monitoring methods using satellite data. This approach aims to simplify the process from site exploration and measurement to carbon credit issuance, while ensuring transparency in the credits generated.
○ Presentation photo (Presenter: Ryo Harada, Manager of Global Sourcing Division）
◆ Future Initiatives
Green Carbon is committed to creating carbon credits through the use of satellite data and AI technology, aiming to simplify monitoring, improve accuracy and transparency, enhance data availability, and reduce the costs involved in credit creation. Furthermore, in regions where projects are implemented, Green Carbon prioritizes both environmental conservation and greenhouse gas reduction, along with providing benefits to local farmers, ultimately contributing to decarbonization and economic development.
The Thai government has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In line with its business expansion in Thailand, Green Carbon plans to carry out an AWD project using up to 1 million hectares of rice paddies, aiming to reduce approximately 5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.※4 Additionally, Green Carbon will work on developing projects that leverage natural potentials beyond rice paddies, such as biochar, to further contribute to Thailand’s decarbonization efforts.
Related Releases
For releases related to satellite data research, please refer to the links below:
Selected for JAXA Satellite Data (Daichi-2) Business demonstration: Aiming to accelerate carbon credit creation
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000017.000117956.html
Green Carbon, Inc. begins business alliance with Archeda Inc. to develop and end -to-end solution for forest-cased credit creation
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000062.000117956.html
Green Carbon, Inc. presents at ALOS-2 satellite data utilization seminar
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000108.000117956.html
Green Carbon, Inc. selected for JAXA Satellite “Daichi-2” Business Demonstration for the second consecutive year
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000115.000117956.html
Upcoming Global Event Presentation Schedule
| Presentation Status | Presentation Date | Country Hosting | Event Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed | 10/29 | Laos | Laos Decarbonization Solution Business Mission |
| Completed | 11/5 | Netherlands | GITR Global Meetup 2024 |
| Completed | 11/7 | Thailand | Thailand Space Week 2024 |
| Upcoming | 11/14 | Japan | GRIC 2024 |
| Upcoming | 11/14 | Azerbaijan | COP29 Japan Pavillion |
| Upcoming | 12/4 | Africa | Africa Investment Forum |
| Upcoming | 12/11 | UAE | Abu Dhabi Space Debate |
| Upcoming | 12/12 | South Korea | South Korea COME UP 2024 |
※１：Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency （GISTDA）
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) is a government agency in Thailand responsible for the research and development of geospatial information and space technology. Established in 1992, GISTDA provides data and analysis for environmental monitoring, agriculture, disaster management, and other fields through the use of satellite technology and geographic information systems (GIS). The agency also operates Thailand’s own Earth observation satellite, “THEOS,” contributing to national development. GISTDA aims to advance Thailand’s science and technology through innovation.
※２：AWD (Alternate Wetting & Drying)
AWD is a technique that involves periodically flooding and naturally drying paddy fields based on the water level. Compared to continuous flooding, AWD can reduce water usage and contribute to the conservation of water resources.
※３：JAXA Daichi-2(ALOS-2) Business Demonstration
A project using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from the Daichi-2 satellite, launched in 2014, to demonstrate the potential for regular, operational use (commercialization) of satellite data by private and other users through 10 years of observational archive data.
※４：We aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5 million tons
Calculated based on a reduction of 5 tons of CO₂ equivalent per hectare of rice paddies.
◆ Green Carbon, Inc.
Representative : Jun Okita, CEO
Location : Isal AKASAKA607, 5-2-33 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Establishment : December 2019
Business : Carbon credit creation and sales business, agriculture-related business, environment-related business, other related businesses and ESG consulting business
URL : https://green-carbon.co.jp/
◆ Introduction of Green Carbon
Green Carbon operates with the vision of “Saving the Earth with the Power of Life”, providing comprehensive support from carbon credit creation, registration, to sales. Additionally, we are involved in agriculture-related businesses, research and development, ESG consulting. Among others. Our main focus is on generation carbon credits through methane gas reduction in rice paddies, where we have obtained certification for J-Credits, the first and largest in Japan (approximately 6,220 tons), and plan to expand to around 50,000 hectares in the fiscal year 2024. We also offer a service called “Agreen” that integrates credit registration, application, and sales into one platform, simplifying procedures such as application registration and document preparation, thus reducing workload for credit creators.
◆ GREEN CARBON JAPAN VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED
Abbreviation ：GREEN CARBON JAPAN VIETNAM CO,. LTD
Representative ：Jun Okita, CEO
Location ：10th Floor, The Nexus Building, 34-3B Ton Duc Thang, 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Establishment : August 24
Businesses : Carbon credit creation and sales business. agriculture-related business