Organizers
- BEARS, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
Co-organizers
- Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE)
- Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ)
- Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF)
- The University of Kitakyushu
- Asia Institute of Low Carbon Design
Supported by
- Kitakyushu city
- Kitakyushu Convention and Visitors Association
Dates: May 25–28, 2026
Main Venue: Kitakyushu science and research park,Kitakyushu,Japan
1. Background
Kitakyushu has developed as one of the representative cities of Japan’s modern industrialization. In particular, core industries such as steel manufacturing have long supported the regional economy and employment. At the same time, these industries are highly energy-intensive and are now facing the need for significant transformation in the era of carbon neutrality.
However, Kitakyushu also has a strong track record in overcoming pollution and improving environmental quality, and possesses the potential to transition toward a new industrial structure. The decarbonization and structural transformation of industry are not merely environmental measures, but critical challenges directly linked to sustainable regional development and the well-being of future generations.
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is a globally recognized research university in the fields of energy and environment. In collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), it has long been engaged in research on industrial decarbonization and future energy systems.
Since 2024, UC Berkeley has been conducting continuous exchanges with research institutions and industry organizations in Japan, including Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ), and Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF). Through these discussions, it has been recognized that industrial decarbonization is not an issue confined to a single sector, but a structural challenge closely linked to regional power supply systems, the deployment of renewable energy, and the stability of electricity systems.
Building on this Japan–U.S. research collaboration, this symposium will be held in cooperation with The University of Tokyo and The University of Kitakyushu. It aims to bring together experts, industry stakeholders, government, and citizens to deepen understanding of the future of industry and energy in Kitakyushu, and to jointly explore pathways toward a sustainable regional society.
2. Objectives
The purpose of this symposium is to examine, from multiple perspectives, the directions for industrial decarbonization and structural transformation in the Kitakyushu region, taking into account its practical industrial conditions and region-specific energy characteristics, and to share knowledge that contributes to the advancement of regional Green Transformation (GX) policies.
In particular, against the background of the increasing adoption of electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and the resulting changes in electricity demand structures, the symposium will analyze—primarily from techno-economic perspectives—the impacts of these changes on the regional electricity mix, the deployment and spatial allocation of renewable energy, and the stability of power systems.
Furthermore, based on the abundant renewable energy resources available in the Kitakyushu region, the symposium aims to propose new production pathways suitable for the sustainable development of the regional steel industry.
3. Schedule and Format
- Format:
The symposium will consist of two parts:- Thematic presentation and reporting sessions by experts
- Small-scale, specialized discussion sessions with selected participants for in-depth exchange of views
4. Symposium Themes
- Presentation of the latest research findings by University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ), and other leading institutions
- Quantitative evaluation, based on techno-economic analysis, of multiple steel production pathways under the conditions of the Kitakyushu region, focusing on technical feasibility, cost structures, and energy demand
- In-depth analysis of transition challenges associated with the shift toward electric arc furnaces (EAFs), constraints related to the procurement and spatial allocation of renewable energy, and other limiting factors arising from regional characteristics, considering the industrial structure and energy conditions of the Kitakyushu region
- Detailed examination of how changes in electricity consumption patterns in the steel industry influence regional energy transition and power system dynamics
- Exchange of views and open discussions among industry stakeholders and research institutions