ピンボール 木の豆ミックス2

Toward the realization of a CO₂-free hydrogen-based society, the development of power-to-gas (P2G) system technology is in progress by a team headed by the Yamanashi Prefectural Enterprise Bureau, aiming to provide new hydrogen supply services. We are building on materials research on hydrogen utilization technologies, inclduing fuel cells, that has been conducted, targeting cost reduction, durability improvement and high performance, at the University of Yamanashi for more than 50 years. A project has been started towards the creation of new businesses, specifically, compact, lightweight fuel cell power systems for various purposes, a low-cost, high current density separator integrated with a gas diffusion layer, and electrospray catalyst ink coating equipment, by applying the research results. Through the cooperation of Prefecture, University and industry, we are highly expectant that a CO₂-free hydrogen-based society can be realized through business creation supported by the new hydrogen service.

We introduce the showcase project to supply wind power-generated, low-carbon hydrogen to fuel cell forklifts. A system has been created for using electricity generated at the Yokohama City Wind Power Plant (Hama Wing) to electrolyze water to create low-carbon hydrogen, which is then compressed and stored. The hydrogen produced at the site will be transported in a hydrogen fueling truck to a fruit and vegetable market, a factory, and warehouses. The hydrogen will be used in fuel cells to power forklifts at these locations.

The creation of this hydrogen supply chain in cooperation with local partners is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 80 percent when compared with a supply chain using forklifts powered by gasoline or grid electricity. The goal of the project is to establish a hydrogen supply chain, analyze costs, and estimate potential CO₂ reductions that can be achieved with a full-scale supply chain in the future

In Yamaguchi, we take advantage of the features of high quality purity “up to 99.99%” by-product hydrogen produced from caustic soda factories at Shunan industrial complex which is main production area of Caustic soda and carry out various activities, about hydrogen utilization.

The activities “local production and local consumption” about multifaceted utilizing unused high purity by-product hydrogen and boil-off gas generated during storage at Shunan city and the activities “regional cooperation” about transporting liquefied hydrogen gas to Shimonoseki city about 100 km away an using are especially characteristic.

Kawasaki City is aiming to be a strong industrial city, and the Kawasaki Coastal Area is expected to create regional development and employment and to lead the way in creating new values that solve global problems as a place for the social implementation of new technologies. In these situations, we are promoting the “Kawasaki Hydrogen Strategy for Realizing a Hydrogen Society”, which will be developed mainly in the Kawasaki Coastal Area. And we are promoting various projects in collaboration with companies.

Showa Denko K.K. started to supply “low-carbon” hydrogen gas made from waste plastics to Kawasaki King Skyfront Tokyu Rei Hotel through hydrogen pipelines. This hotel uses low-carbon hydrogen gas as energy source to be converted into electricity and heat through large sized fuel cells. This project has been accredited as an official project under the framework of ‘FY 2015 Regional Cooperation and Low-carbon Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Project’ commissioned by the Ministry of Environment, and Kawasaki City is cooperating local government. Through this case, we will also consider a future prospects for the Kawasaki Coastal Area.

As for the methods to obtain regarded low-cost CO₂ free hydrogen inside Japan, hydrogen productions from unutilized energy such as surplus power of VRE s (Variable Renewable Energy) are important to be taken up. Where the hydrogen generations have random fluctuations, and to meet the confirmed hydrogen demand, insertion of hydrogen storage systems before shipment of hydrogen is required. Such storage costs become significant.

In case of substantial raise in VRE supply surplus is expected to occur, and addition of new demand, such as water electrolysis, is adoptable for maintaining the demand-supply equality (power system stabilization). This is called surplus VRE PtoG-Hydrogen.

In Hokkaido, if introduction of VRE became 17.8% of yearly electric power amount, with the same time-pattern variations in 2016 fiscal year, quantity of hydrogen yearly produced due to surplus VRE PtoG would be 520 million Nm3 and the hydrogen seasonal storage before shipment with inventory turn-over-number of 1 would be required.