FUEL CELL REVOLUTION UNDER WAY IN JAPAN

JFS Newsletter No.2 (October 2002)

One of the hottest topics in Japan is the move toward fuel cells, promoted by the government, industry, academia and the general public. A fuel cell is a device to generate electricity by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in air. No carbon dioxide is generated, and the only emissions are water. As a clean energy, fuel cell technology is attracting much attention around the world.

The most spectacular stage for competition and new partnerships among companies for fuel cells is the automobile industry. For example, Toyota and Honda, two of Japan's automobile giants, have been in a fierce competition to be the first to launch fuel cell-powered cars in the market. Click here to read more:
Toyota and Honda to Sell Cars Powered by Fuel Cell

In a new partnership, Toyota will provide Nissan with high performance hybrid systems for over 10 years. Read more:
Toyota and Nissan to Jointly Develop Hybrid Technologies

Fuel cell cars are scheduled to be launched at the end of this year in Japan and new announcements of prototypes and new sales agreements are regularly in the news.

At the same time, research on the infrastructure for cars powered by fuel cells has been progressing. This infrastructure is indispensable in order to promote the wide use of these vehicles. For example, Toho Gas has constructed a fueling station to supply hydrogen from city gas for fuel cell-powered cars at its technology research lab facilities. Read more at the JFS website soon (translation under way).

Many say that installing fuel cells for household use holds more promise than automotive fuel cells. Gas companies have intensified their competition to develop fuel cell "co-generation" systems that use existing gas pipelines, extract hydrogen from natural gas, generate electricity by fuel cell and then use both the electricity and waste heat.

The biggest gas company in Japan, Tokyo Gas, plans to launch a household fuel cell system in Japan during fiscal 2004. Osaka Gas, the second-largest gas giant in the market, introduced the country's first residential co-generation system, using phosphoric-acid fuel cells (PAFC), when they constructed an experimental apartment building known as "NEXT21" where 16 families of Osaka Gas employees lived for 5 years, starting in April 1994, to test the system under actual living conditions. Osaka Gas has been proceeding with joint research for a household co-generation system that uses a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEPF or PEM). Its partners are Ebara Ballard, Ballard Generation Systems and Ebara Corporation.

On a different front, dramatic advances are being made with fuel cells for personal computers and mobile phones. Because lithium batteries, the primary power source used today, are not adequate to support the rising level of functions required for mobile phones and other mobile devises, new power sources are being targeted for development.

As a result Toshiba and Hitachi, for example, are working jointly to develop fuel cells for mobile devices. Read more:
Toshiba and Hitachi to Make Micro Fuel Cells for Mobile Devices

Casio Computer has succeeded in developing fuel cells for mobile devices. Read more:
Casio Computer Succeeds Develops Fuel Cell for Mobile Devices

Hydrogen is the fuel used in fuel cells. It can be obtained from natural gas, petroleum, butane, methanol, biomass, waste and other sources. But what is the best source of hydrogen for fuel cells? This is another competitive battlefield for industries and companies.

For example, kerosene is being used as a source of hydrogen. Read more: Idemitsu Closer To Developing Kerosene-Fueled Fuel Cell

Kitchen garbage is also a source of fuel. Read more:
Fuel Cell Power Plant Produces Biogas from Food Waste

The Tokyo Gas Frontier Research Institute is developing a system that can generate hydrogen from weeds, saying that hydrogen generated from 100 kilograms of weeds can supply enough electricity for one household for a day.

Above are some of the examples in various industries to accelerate the development of fuel cells in Japan. The Japanese government is also putting much attention and support into fuel cell development. According to a calculation by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the market for fuel cells will be one trillion yen in 2010 (approximately 50,000 fuel cell cars and 1.2 million household units) and eight trillion yen in 2020 (5 million fuel cell cars and 5.7 household units).

The government has started a demonstration project to support this rapid development. Read more:
Fuel Cell Demonstration Projects Launched

To provide institutional support for the spread of fuel cell-powered cars, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is setting safety standards these vehicles. Read more:
Ministry To Set Safety Standards for Fuel Cell Cars

The ministry is now considering tax exemptions for fuel cell cars in

order to give momentum to the fledgling fuel cell car market. Read more:
Fuel Cell Vehicles to be Tax-Exempt

To stay up to date on the field of fuel cells, keep your eyes on technology developments, new legislative and regulatory frameworks, and the actions of companies. Visit our virtual Information Center and search with the keywords "fuel cell" to get the latest information.