The Paris Agreement, aimed at combating global warming, sets the target of limiting temperature rise to below 1.5℃. Japan is also striving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that around 15% of CO2 emissions must be reduced through carbon capture and storage (CCS) to keep the Earth’s temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This calculation suggests that approximately 6,000 sites worldwide would be necessary to store 1 million tons of CO2 annually. Japan also aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 120 to 240 million tons by 2050 through underground CO2 storage. Therefore, realizing CCS is an urgent challenge both in Japan and globally.
To encourage the widespread adoption of CCS, concerns about CO2 leakage and induced seismicity have emerged. Mechanisms for continuous monitoring of CO2 storage conditions are essential to address these issues and ensure safety.
Conventional monitoring methods have typically relied on large seismic source equipment, with costs reaching tens to hundreds of millions of yen per survey. As a result, it was challenging to conduct monitoring surveys repeatedly and to continuously capture the behavior of stored CO2, leading to a risk of being unable to respond promptly to sudden CO2 leaks.
PASS (Portable Active Seismic Source) developed by the Tsuji Laboratory at the University of Tokyo, is an ultra-compact and cost-effective device. It allows for the continuous deployment of multiple PASS units at CO2 storage sites, including hard-to-reach locations, enabling the detection of sudden movements of CO2.
PASS can be utilized not only for CCS but also for monitoring energy resources like geothermal development, oil and natural gas, and civil engineering structures such as embankments and tunnels. The Tsuji Laboratory at the University of Tokyo is also researching the application of PASS for exploration in space, including the Moon and Mars.
WAVELET aims to deploy the small seismic source device PASS across various fields, contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.
Member
Tomoyuki Iwamoto
CEO
Graduated with a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences from Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School.
Worked at Marubeni Corporation in the nuclear power business, renewable energy business, and natural gas development business.
Afterwards, held roles at a foreign IPP company before being appointed CEO of our company in November 2024.
Grew up in the rich natural environment of Shimane Prefecture, nurtured by the local community, and aspires to contribute to environmental conservation, as well as social and regional development through work.
On days off, enjoys spending time with three children and frequently visits the gym and a local public bath.
Akihisa Takahashi
Chairman
He is currently the CEO of Wavelet, Inc. After receiving his B.S. and M.S. degrees in geophysics from Tohoku University, he joined JAPEX, where he served as an Executive Officer at the Environment & New Technology division. As an exploration geophysicist, he is also involved in research and educational activities at both companies and universities. His favorite word is “curiosity”.
PhD. of Eng., Kyoto University
Shu Shimada
Director
Takeshi Tsuji
Chief Scientist
He is a professor in the Department of Systems Innovation at the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. His research focuses on developing exploration technologies for imaging subsurface structures on Earth, the Moon, and Mars, as well as monitoring technologies to detect underground movements. Recognizing global warming as an urgent, planet-scale issue, he has recently centered his work on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and energy solutions. In his free time, he enjoys relaxing at hot springs.
PhD. of Science, the University of Tokyo
Company Profile
Company name | WAVELET Co., Ltd. |
Address | Location: Sumitomo Fudosan Iidabashi Building 3F, Room 6, 2-3-21 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo, 112-0004, JAPAN |
Tel | 03-6265-1957 |
Establishment | July, 2022 |
Representative director | Tomoyuki Iwamoto |
Director | Akihisa Takahashi, Shu Shimada, Takeshi Tsuji |
Business details | Technical services for environmental monitoring using vibration measurment |
Corresponding bank | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Saikyo Shinkin Bank |
Contact
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