Kyushu's First Fully Off-Grid Private Power Generation System "Mado Power Plant" Begins Operation Children are lent electric kickboards that generate their own electricity and are recharged Electric Kickboard Commute to School Begins on September 1 (Friday)

2023.08.22 10:30

特定非営利活動法人まど

Non-Profit Organization Mado (Head office: Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture; President: Yasunori Nakamura; hereinafter "the Corporation"), a non-profit organization that provides welfare services for handicapped children and people with disabilities, correspondence high school, children's cafeteria, learning support, and toy library, has installed a completely off-grid private power generation system, "Mado Power Plant," at the Corporation's complex facility for children and youth with disabilities, Komado Street. The "Mado Power Plant," a completely off-grid private power generation system, was installed at "Komado Street," a complex facility for children and youth in need operated by the corporation, and began operation on July 1 (Saturday). In addition, from September 1 (Fri.), electric kickboards charged at the "Mado Power Plant" will be available for rent to users of our organization.

Electric kickboards used in conjunction with "Mado Power Plant," a completely off-grid private power generation system

Nonprofit Corporation Mado URL: http://www.npo-mado.net

Users of the electric kickboards will include students of Yamaguchi Seika Gakuen Seika Gakuen High School Oita, of which Nakamura, the president of the corporation, also serves as president, and will be able to use them as a means of transportation to and from school. We hope that the experience of trying something new will be a source of life for these children and young people. This will be the first completely off-grid power plant in Kyushu and the first school in Oita Prefecture to use electric kickboards for commuting to school (according to our own research).

Background of the "Mado Power Plant" Installation and Introduction of Electric Kickboards

The corporation has long wanted to give children and young people in the community, including our users, new experiences, and with the revision of the law in July 2023, we wanted them to experience electric kickboards, a new means of transportation that has become readily available, and at the same time, if they could use them to commute to school or as a means of transportation, it would be a new experience for truants and shut-ins. We also thought that if they could use it as a means of transportation and commuting to and from school, it might be a stimulating new experience for truant and shut-in children and make some kind of difference in their lives.

In addition, Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture is currently promoting the introduction of electric kickboards in the tourism sector. By introducing electric kickboards that can also be used by children and young people, we hope to boost local tourism.

The installation of the Mado Power Station was made possible with the cooperation of T-PLAN Corporation (located in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture; President: Mitsuru Terashita), with whom we have a long-standing relationship. T-PLAN is also the winner of the "Grand Prize, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award" at the 13th EST Transportation Environment Grand Prize(*1). In Himejima Village, Oita Prefecture, the only village on one island in Oita Prefecture, the "Blue Sky Outlet" is being used for local production for local consumption of energy, contributing to improving the convenience of islanders' lives and securing transportation for tourists.

Through the installation of the "Mado Power Plant," the corporation hopes to encourage children and young people to become more familiar with natural energy and private power generation, and to encourage their active involvement in global environmental issues.

1 Nikkei BP, "New Public-Private Partnership Frontline," https://project.nikkeibp.co.jp/atclppp/PPP/news/053102932/

Outline of measures

<About "Mado Power Plant," a completely off-grid private power generation system

Start of operation: July 1, 2023 (Saturday)

Location: 395 Kaminamiyanaga, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture

　　　　　　In the parking lot of KOMADO STREET, a complex social resource facility

Product Name ：Re-energy storage system "Blue Sky Outlet Garage" (Manufactured by T-Plan Corporation)

Overview ：Solar panels on Inaba Garage "GALEDIA",

　　　　　　Solar panels, power conditioner, and storage batteries are installed in Inaba Garage "Galedia

Basic specifications: Power generation capacity: 2.18 kW / Storage capacity: 11.5 kWh / Rated output: 3000 VA

Features ：・Independent power supply system using clean energy

　　　　　　Ideal for installation in places where there are no power lines.

　　　　　　・AC200V equipment can be used.

　　　　　　Suitable for heavy salt damage specifications

Applications: Electric kickboards, electric vehicles, accommodations, use in times of disaster

Remarks: "Mado Power Plant" is an off-grid solar power generation and storage battery

　　　　　　The "Mado Power Plant" has been adopted for the Oita Prefecture Eco-Energy Introduction Support Project Subsidy Project as a charging system that uses off-grid solar power generation and storage batteries.

　　　　　　The "Mado Denryojo" has been adopted by the Oita Prefecture Eco-Energy Introduction Support Project subsidy project as an off-grid charging system using solar power generation and storage batteries.

＜About the self-generated electric kickboards

Start of operation: September 1, 2023 (Friday)

Number of units installed: 4

Target: Our users (children and youth with difficulties, children and youth seeking a place to stay and learn)

　　　　　　Students of Yamaguchi Seika Gakuen Seika Gakuen High School Oita, operated by MIX JUICE Co.

　　　　　　・Staff of each corporation

How to use ：Reservations must be made at the counter on the 1st floor of KOMADO STREET.

Fee ：Free of charge

Conditions of use: 16 years of age or older, and those who have participated in a training session hosted by the corporation.

Inquiries: 0979-64-6104 (NPO Mado Nakatsu Office)

Storage batteries (left) and solar panels (right) at the Mado Power Plant

Future Prospects

In the future, the Mado Power Plant will be used to charge the batteries of vehicles used to transport people with disabilities to and from welfare facilities for the disabled operated by the corporation. In addition, since Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture, where the corporation is located, is prone to flooding, it is envisioned that the plant will be open to the community in the event of a disaster. In addition to contributing to the community as a facility that can be used to charge cell phones and other devices in the event of a disaster, we will also make a broad appeal to raise awareness of energy issues in the community. The corporation hopes to revitalize the community by promoting a new way of life that begins with the "Mado Power Plant" and self-generated electric kickboards.

About "KOMADO STREET

KOMADO STREET is a facility that provides seamless support for everyone from school-aged children to those in the workforce, with the first floor serving as the site for the corporation's own activities, including correspondence high school, free school, learning support, children's cafeteria, and toy library, and the second floor as a multifunctional welfare office "Komado College," after-school support facilities for children with disabilities, and day services for the disabled. The second floor is used for the multifunctional welfare facility "Komado College," the after-school day service for children with disabilities, and the day-care support facility for people with disabilities "Independence training and support for employment transition.

Press release on the establishment of KOMADO STREET (March 10, 2023): https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/348504

Company Profile

Company name: Nonprofit organization "Mado

Representative: Yasunori Nakamura, President

Location: 237-2, Kamiike Naga, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture (Head Office)

　　　　　 395 Kaminamiyanaga, Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture (Nakatsu Office)

Establishment : February 4, 2014

Business activities: Welfare services for disabled children and persons with disabilities, correspondence high school,

　　　　　 Placement business for children and youths, etc.

URL : http://www.npo-mado.net

Outline of affiliated organization

Company name: MIX JUICE Co.