While Compact Fluorescent Bulbs have barely been seen in various parts of the world and incandescent lighting still rules in others, two Japanese companies already want to change them for LEDs – straight tube LED lamps, which, they say, are much more economical.

The first factory to manufacture the Nissan Leaf, in Oppama, Japan, started producing functional units on October 22. The first shipments will be made to Japan and the US this November and to Europe starting December. The Nissan Leaf uses lithium-ion batteries made by Automotive Energy Supply Corp, the joint venture between NEC and Nissan.

According to Mazda Motor Corp, the new Mazda2 subcompact will have a fuel economy of 30 km/litre (70 mpg) and as the company said, it will become the world’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. Mazda2 is scheduled to be launched in Japan in the first half of 2011, being the first car fitted with SKYACTIV, a technology produced only by Mazda based on next-generation gasoline and diesel engines.

The park, which will have its grand opening on October 22nd, has been built to showcase SANYO’s energy solutions to customers and to demonstrate efficient energy utilization. With the Kasai Green Energy Park, SANYO, a member of the Panasonic Group, will help reduce CO2 emissions all over the world, promoting ‘energy solutions for entire homes, buildings and cities’.

Vietnam wants to further promote cooperation with Japan, the country’s top partner, in the spirit of strategic partnership for mutual benefit, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. At a reception for former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Japanese parliamentarian delegation in Hanoi on Oct. 25, PM Dung suggested that both countries should join efforts to expand trade and investment to match with their potential.

Mitsubishi Corp. will conduct a feasibility study to help address global warming by popularizing energy-saving Japanese home appliances in Vietnam, it has been learned. Working in cooperation with five electric appliance makers, including Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp., Mitsubishi will verify how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through the end of March 2011.

Florian Bailly, a French cyclist, completed a 12 countries and two continents tour on a custom-made solar bike this week. The 10,000-kilometer journey, from France to Tokyo, lasted two-thirds less than it would have taken on a normal bike.

On the afternoon of October 14th, People's Committee of Hanoi discussed with the Chairman of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan and theMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment about preparing for the implementation of the project "Building a system to treat waste of power industry" in an area of 1 ha of Nam Son Waste Disposal Complex, Soc Son district.

On October 9th 2010, in Japan, the energy efficiency training course for Vietnamese staff (ECVN7) ended successfully, after 12 days of hard work, studying the theory and practicing to operate machines at Japanese facilities which well implemented energy efficiency.

Ceatec Japan 2010 hosted Rohm’s new dye-sensitized solar cells that we were talking about a few months ago. Now, the Japanese company applied their plans to TV remotes, mice and sensors. The solar cell that the company presented is highly optimized for low room, fluorescent light, having a wavelength of 400 to 800 nm. The interesting fact is that the efficiency of the exhibited cells is 30%, a year after the company showed off with their latest 20% samples.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) joined China, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United States in launching the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) on October 1 at the Paris Motor Show in France. The new initiative will provide a platform for global cooperation on the development and deployment of electric vehicles.

According to "Nikkei" of Japan issued on 22nd September, the Itochu Corporation of Japan and Qatar Petroleum are having final discussions on building a petrochemical production complex in Vietnam. According to Qatar Vice President and Minister of Energy, these two groups would build a petrochemical production complex in Long Son (Vung Tau) with a total investment of about $ 4 billion.

In order to manufacture high quality products which have both domestic and international competitiveness, Catalan JSC has invested in the most modern technological lines and equipment using Robots and automation technologies. In addition, some auxiliary equipment is also imported from countries such as Japan, Britain, America and Belgium. Although the company is growing rapidly and creating a foothold in the market, the actual energy consumption is still high with over VND90 billion per year, including costs for electricity, coal and gas.

Struggling Japanese Automaker Suzuki hopes it will fare better in India than it has in the US. To help make sure it does, Suzuki introduced Indian press to a full line-up of clean-burning CNG vehicles earlier this week.

With the theme: “Energy and climate change”, at the AMEM 28, representatives of 10 ASEAN countries, Deputy secretary of ASEAN and 8 partner countries including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US acknowledged the results of 2009-2010 activities.

Japan's Toshiba said Friday it was working with Mitsubishi Motors to develop batteries for electric vehicles, as the race intensifies among automakers and technology giants to make emission-free cars. Toshiba, which spans electronic components, appliances and nuclear power plants has developed a fast-charging long life lithium-ion battery called SCiB (Super Charge ion Battery), which it plans to adapt for cars.

One early adopter was the Kyocera Corporation of Japan, which tasked Envision Solar with the construction of its first large-scale “solar grove” in 2006 at its United StatesSan Diego, where a 235-kilowatt carport harnesses 1,400 of Kyocera’s own solar photovoltaic modules. Other major installations soon followed at Dell Computer’s headquarters in Round Rock, Tex

The Japanese giant said it would invest seven billion yen (76 million dollars) by March 2012 in facilities in its domestic production centres to test how to maintain stable power from fluctuating renewable energies.