Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) recently received two major honours at the 2025 Energy Conservation Grand Prize Awards in Tokyo, organised by the Energy Conservation Center, Japan and sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

MHI Thermal Systems was awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for its JHT-Y and JHT-YI series of large-capacity centrifugal chillers using a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant. The chillers adopt HFO-1234yf with a GWP of less than one and deliver high energy efficiency, achieving a rated COP of up to 6.4 and significantly higher performance at partial loads. Upgrading from conventional HFC-based systems can reduce electricity consumption and CO? emissions by around 20 per cent annually.

In addition, MHI’s Oye Plant at the Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works received the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Commissioner’s Award for its energy conservation programme aligned with the group’s MISSION NET ZERO roadmap. Despite operating within strict aerospace manufacturing constraints, the plant implemented phased efficiency measures, including equipment optimisation, furnace automation and data-driven diagnostics.

As a result, the facility achieved an 18 per cent reduction in energy use per unit of output and cut CO? emissions by 4,200 tonnes in FY2024 compared to FY2021 levels. The initiative has since been standardised for rollout across other MHI production sites.

MHI said the recognition reinforces its commitment to advancing energy-efficient technologies and accelerating progress towards carbon neutrality across its diverse industrial operations.