(Keynote) Japan's Policy and Activity on Hydrogen Energy

Abstract

This presentation will provide an overview of Japan’s hydrogen and fuel cell activities, focusing on the latest policy, market and NEDO’s research, development and demonstration programs. In June 2014, Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) compiled the “Strategic Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells” toward the realization of a “hydrogen society.” This road map states how Japan would be able to make use of hydrogen, what are goals to be achieved in each step of production, transportation, storage and utilization of hydrogen, and what kind of collaborative efforts could be possible among industry, academia and government for achieving these goals. Regarding market status, Japan has success to market introduction of hydrogen technology. Fuel cell micro combined heat and power system for household has been on market since 2009 and over 150,000 units are installed. Fuel cell vehicle was launched in December 2014 and around 70 hydrogen refueling stations have been operated now.The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has been conducting comprehensive technology development and demonstrative research programs on hydrogen energy. The most recent result from NEDO’s program such as new materials for PEFC, analysis technology of morphology, electrochemical reaction and mass transfer in MEA, evaluation technology for long time fuel cell durability will be addressed. Following current topic, NEDO’s future challenge to develop hydrogen energy demand will be presented. NEDO just started R&D program to develop large scale n hydrogen supply chain with long-distance transportation of hydrogen and hydrogen gas turbine technology. NEDO is now also conducting Power to Gas which is a key technology to provide CO2 free hydrogen in the future.