Japanese entities to survey renewable hydrogen production, use in Maibara city

Six Japanese entities, including Shiga prefecture, Maibara city, and Chiyoda Corporation are examining the establishment of a renewable hydrogen production and supply hub, leveraging Maibara city's geographical characteristics and transport convenience, the entities said in a joint statement July 30.

It comes as the jointly proposed 'Survey on Hydrogen Production and Utilization in Collaboration with Local Industries in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture' has been selected by state-owned New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization's "Advanced Technology Development and Demonstration Project for Hydrogen Society Model Construction (Survey Phase)."

In this survey, the parties will focus on the area around the Ibuki Parking Area in Maibara City, investigating a local production and consumption model that combines cascading use of hydrogen produced by water electrolysis and effective use of by-products (oxygen and waste heat) within the region, the statement said.

Kansai Electric Power Company, Daiwa House Industry Co. Ltd., and Meijo Nano Carbon Co. Ltd. are the other three partners working on the clean energy project, the release added. The hub would be at a junction connecting the Tokai, Kinki, and Hokuriku regions.

Use in manufacturing, stations

Specifically, hydrogen produced by water electrolysis will first be used as a carrier gas in the manufacturing process of carbon nanotubes and then supplied to hydrogen stations, it said. Additionally, the use of by-product oxygen and waste heat will be considered for various applications, including the cultivation of fish.

The initiative will look at the feasibility of reducing hydrogen supply costs through cascading use and effective use of by-products, it said.

Furthermore, by expanding the model to other regions and industries, it can aim to create hydrogen demand and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it said.

Japan aims to introduce up to 3 million mt/year of hydrogen in 2030 and about 12 million mt/y in 2040, including the introduction volume of ammonia and other substances directly combusted in hydrogen-equivalent terms, compared with about 2 million mt/y currently, with a target of around 20 million mt/y in 2050.