Jordan Carlson – JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow (Joined Nov 2022)

Jordan is currently researching the decarbonisation implications of different proposed hydrogen (including ammonia) supply pathways for Japan’s future energy mix. The early phases of this research have focused on developing a framework or understanding the risks posed to successful energy system decarbonisation from hydrogen produced from different primary energy sources. Applications of this framework to case study countries will help to understand the viability of long-term hydrogen use for decarbonisation in priority areas of the energy system.

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Jordan completed his degrees in his homeland, Canada, with a BSc in physics (UNBC), a Masters in Environmental Studies (Dalhousie), and a PhD in Geography (Queen’s). His past research has investigated tidal energy development policy in Nova Scotia, as well as the potential for tidal and other renewable energy technologies to contribute to energy transitions in off-grid communities in the Inuit lands of Nunatsiavut. As an energy geographer, Jordan takes a holistic approach to considering energy and sustainability issues to consider pathways towards societal decarbonisation and energy transitions.

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Qi WANG, Doctoral Candidate (Joined October 2023)

Qi is currently researching on the innovation system and urban transition for autonomous vehicles in China. CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electrics) vehicles are being promoted as a mechanism to increase transportation safety and improve human welfare, but meanwhile with many controversies and barriers of diffusion. The focus of the research is firstly on the actors, on-the-ground activities, and policies in those Chinese cities, which are leading the innovation process of AVs with various pilot projects. On top of this, the research aims to develop a framework for analyzing the innovation system and urban experimentation of AVs, and how it could contribute to accelerate the transition to a more inclusive, energy-efficient, and sustainable urban mobility system. She has previously worked as ESG consultant and business analyst of digital transformation in China.

 

 

Roma KANDPAL, Doctoral Candidate (Joined October 2022)

Roma is currently researching on the policies and innovation system for electric vehicle diffusion in India. India is an emerging market with the challenges of weak governance, lacking infrastructure and diversity in socio-economic factors. This, associated with the increasing number of on-road vehicles makes it an interesting research area for policy analysis. The focus of the research is on using mixed methods to analyse the policies and address the gaps at multiple levels of governance.

She has previously worked as a Data Analyst for FedEx Express and as Application Analyst for Accenture in India.

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*** GRADUATED ***

 

濱野 敏寛（2022年4月入学）
私は、多くの企業や団体が研究・開発を進めている次世代モビリティと最先端な技術から離れた位置にいる高齢者を調査し、相反する２つのコンテンツがどこまで融合し、合致できるものになるのかを研究する。現在のモビリティでは、ただ単に人を輸送する役割のみを担っており、必ずしも利用者に寄り添ったビジネスやサービスを提供できているとは言いがたい。これは、モビリティがハード的な役割のみを提供しており、必要な場所に必要なタイミングで輸送するなどソフト的な役割ができておらず、ニーズにマッチしていないためだと考えている。そこには、人を輸送するだけでなく、＋αの機能が求められている。世界では、Mobility as a Service（MaaS）やCASE（Connected、Autonomous、Shared & Services、Electric）の取り組みが進められている。日本においても、日本版MaaSの取り組みが始まり各地域で実証実験を行われている。一方で、日本が直面している高齢化社会で、高齢者が移動手段に抱えている問題は数多く、研究されている。しかし、こうした問題は単独で研究されていることが多く、次世代モビリティの側面とともに研究されていないため、解決に至っていないのが現状である。

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李 勝楠 （2021年10月入学）

私は現在、中国における電気自動車の使用済み蓄電池の回収・リサイクルに関する政策、ビジネスモデルと市場のガバナンス戦略について研究を行っている。地球温暖化や大気汚染などの環境問題やエネルギー安全問題を解決するために、自動車の電動化が世界的に急務となっている。世界最大の電気自動車市場として、電気自動車の普及と共に、使用済み蓄電池の処理が大きな問題となっている。中国では、政府の政策が、電気自動車の普及と使用済み蓄電池のリサイクル産業の発展に重要な役割を果たしており、主たる企業のビジネスモデルに大きな影響を与えるため、アメリカや日本、ヨーロッパなどの先進事例を参照し、中国の使用済みバッテリーの回収•リサイクルを促進するための政策、市場戦略についての研究が必要である。本研究では、まず中国の使用済み蓄電池リサイクル市場の発展を妨げる原因、および、リサイクル市場を更に拡大するためには、如何なる改善が求められているのかを明らかにしていく。

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Shengnan LI Research student (Joined October 2021)

Li is currently researching about the policy, business models and market strategies that affect the recycling of used Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) batteries in China. As the largest PEV market (measured by on-road vehicle numbers), how to solve the problem of an increasing volume of used batteries is becoming an urgent problem. The policies that the Chinese government has published so far have played a key role in the diffusion of PEV and the development of the battery recycling industry. Therefore, research on policies related to the recycling industry is indispensable. What’s more, it’s necessary to promote the development of China's relevant policies and market strategies in this area by referring to advanced regions such as Japan, the United States, and Europe. Her research thus aims to explain what hampers the development of recycling market in China and what kind of improvement is required to further expand the battery recycling market

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Nhi TRUONG Doctoral Candidate (Graduated Sept 2022)

Nhi researched socio-technical lock-in factors that affect urban consumption and mobility. The theoretical part of her research has combined socio-technical systems and urban consumption to propose a framework that explains unsustainable urban consumption behavior. In addition, she used this framework to learn about the situation of low adoption of electric vehicles in Vietnam, comparing the factors that hamper the diffusion of both electric two wheelers and electric four wheelers. 

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Nhi previously worked as a Vice Director of the Center of Social and Community Development Research and Consultancy (SDRC) and a researcher of the Center of Regional and Urban Studies (CRUS) in Vietnam, and as a researcher at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. 

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Current affiliation: Institute of Circular Economy Development and Van Lang University

 

Position: Senior researcher and lecturer

 

Country of employment: Vietnam

 

Role: At Van Lang University, Nhi is responsible for developing course and giving lectures related to business risk management and CSR/ESG. At the Institute of Circular Economy Development she works with stakeholders to conduct scientific and practical research on technical and institutional aspects to promote circular economy in sectors of energy, urban transformation, transportation, tourism. She is also involved in the advisory boards related to the local government's circular economy transition and green economy. 

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Publications

Truong, N., Trencher, G., Matsubae, K., 2022. How Does Socio-Technical Lock-In Cause Unsustainable Consumption in Cities? A Framework and Case Study on Mobility in Bangkok. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities 4. **Open access**

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Achmed EDIANTO Doctoral candidate (Graduated Sept 2022)

Achmed researched about the policy, market and environmental conditions that affect international investments in coal-fired electricity and renewable energy. The focus of this research is on using statistical analysis to elucidate the factors that have affected investments from China, Japan and Korea for power generation projects in a sample of some 25 countries.  

 

Before coming to Japan, Achmed worked as a program coordinator/specialist at World Wide Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia in the climate and energy program. In this role, Achmed mostly worked on energy issues, sustainable finance, sustainable infrastructure, and social development. Prior to that, Achmed was a researcher in the Indonesian Institute for Energy Economics (IIEE). 

 

Current affiliation: Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) at United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Position: Senior Program Management Officer/ Country Coordinator for Indonesia program
 

Country of employment: Indonesia

Role: Providing technical, financial, and operational coordination of Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) programs, facilitating resource mobilization, and supporting knowledge management while ensuring timely delivery and partner-oriented services. Also involved in building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders in the public and private sectors, civil society, and development partners in the energy transition domain.

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Publications

Edianto, A., Trencher, G., Manych, N., & Matsubae, K. (2023). "Forecasting coal power plant retirement ages and lock-in with random forest regression." Patterns 0(0)  100776  "**Open access**

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Edianto, A., Trencher, G., Matsubae, K. "Why do some countries receive more international financing for coal-fired power plants than renewables? Influencing factors in 23 countries". Energy for Sustainable Development 66: 177-188. **Open access**

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Mei LI Doctoral candidate (Graduated March 2022, joint supervision with Dr. Asuka JUSEN)

Mei is currently researching the low-carbon transition of international oil and gas majors, the principal suppliers of fossil fuels to the global economy. Responding to climate change pressures, some majors are proclaiming themselves on the way to a green transition by pledging numerous strategies, including investment in renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies. This research aims to objectively determine the extent to which the major oil companies are actually divesting from fossil fuels and transitioning towards clean energy, as well as identifying the transition risks they are facing. It is expected the outcomes from this research would be helpful to understand the compatibility of the oil industry’s behavior and its alignment with global climate objectives to achieve a carbon free future. The methodology can also allow the public to track the actions of fossil fuel companies in this transition. 

 

Mei previously worked as a college lecturer in China where she joined an environmental economic project about the mitigation of carbon emissions in Zhejiang Province. 

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Publications

Li M, Trencher G, Asuka J (2022) "The clean energy claims of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell: A mismatch between discourse, actions and investments". PLoS ONE 17(2): e0263596. **Open access**

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Coverage in media: The Guardian UK, National People's Radio USA, ABC News Australia, Carbon Brief England 

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Coverage in Nature Energy: Here

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