Tokyo Gas and Chiba University Launch Research Applying Recovered CO2 for Tomato Cultivation

Copyright Tokyo Gas Co.

On November 24, 2011, Tokyo Gas Co. and Chiba University announced the launch of joint research for the effective use of recovered carbon dioxide (CO2). In the research project, Tokyo Gas will supply CO2 recovered from its Haneda Hydrogen Station (Ota Ward, Tokyo) for fuel cell vehicles to the Chiba University Plant Factory (Kashiwa, Chiba) operated by Chiba University starting December 2011. This will be the first-ever attempt in the world to use recovered CO2 from the hydrogen station in a plant factory.

At Haneda Hydrogen Station, Tokyo Gas will recover and liquefy CO2 generated in the process of creating hydrogen from city gas, transfer this to a 160 kilogram CO2 cylinder and transport this by automobile to the Chiba University Plant Factory. The liquefied CO2 will then be vaporized to raise the atmospheric CO2 concentration of about 400 parts per million (ppm) to approximately 1,000 ppm.

Plant photosynthesis rates rise in proportion to CO2 concentration, raising hopes for a boost of the annual tomato harvest, normally about 40 kilograms per square meter, to approximately 50 kilograms per square meter, and produce tomatoes with higher levels of sweetness and quality. In the joint research project, Tokyo Gas will investigate supply costs and Chiba University will research the optimum CO2 supply method while considering air conditioning and ventilation inside the plant factory.

Tokyo Gas Halves CO2 Emissions in World's First Hydrogen Production Technology (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029241.html
Mitsubishi Plastics Group Starts Verifying Tomato Cultivation at Solar Light Plant Factory (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/031357.html

Posted: 2012/02/26 06:00:15 AM