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THE LATEST FUEL CELL NEWS in JAPAN-185, August 2011

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THE LATEST FUEL CELL NEWS in JAPAN-185, August 2011 THE LATEST NEWS NUMBER 185, 2011 FCDIC METI Initiates the Transition of IGFC from Development Phase to Validation 1.National Policies available among Japanese enterprises at present, it is (1) Ministry of the Environment (MfE) anticipated that Chinese competitors will emerge soon On September 1st, the MfE announced another 28 to grab a share. (Asahi Shimbun, September 5th, qualified companies to be listed in the Eco-Lease 2011) subsidy program – a government program that aims On September 9th, METI announced the to facilitate the use of energy-saving products such as establishment of a new subsidy system named solar panels, wind power equipment, fuel cell systems, "Energy-Saving Eco-Subsidy" under which the etc. by reducing the lease rate of such products for introduction and deployment of energy-saving SMBs (small and middle-sized businesses) and equipment, e.g. storage batteries, will be subsidized by families. The Eco-Lease subsidy program was started the government. In the third supplementary budget, in June with 67 companies included through the first this new system will be taken as a key project and recruitment. Whereas many organizations suffering requested for an allocation of up to 200 billion Yen. For from the Great Earthquake claimed that "there was ordinary families, the deployment of storage batteries, no time for sufficient preparation (for the first solar power equipment, FC, as well as HEMS (Home recruitment) as the Earthquake was just over", the Energy Management System) will be eligible for a second round of recruitment was conducted in August subsidy of up to 30 percent of the cost. For enterprises in order to accommodate their application. and schools, all facility reconstructions for the purpose (Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun, Shikoku Shimbun, of energy-saving will be eligible for the subsidy. Niigata Nippo, Iwate Nippo, Hukushima Minpo, (Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Chunichi Fukushima Minyu Shimbun, Okinawa Times, Shimbun, September 10th, 2011; Denki Shimbun, September 2nd, 2011; Miyanichi e-press, September September 12th, 2011; Kagaku Kogyo Nippo, 9th, 2011) September 14th, 2011) (2) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) In order to improve the efficiency of thermal power The METI has set to develop a Japan-initiated generation, METI is planning to reinforce its support international standard for the performance evaluation for technology developments in that field. In of products in 29 different fields in which Japan has a prospective FY 2012 Budget Request, METI will first strong presence, including LED, antibacterial fiber incorporate the expenses for the validation of and residential fuel cell systems, etc. The standard is "Integrated Gasification Fuel Cell Combined Cycle supposed to be completed in 2 or 3 years and proposed (IGFC)" which is expected to be put into application as to the responsible international organization then. the next-generation coal-fired power generation This initiative is for the purpose of appealing the high technology. In respect of the policy on high-efficiency quality of Japanese products against Chinese ones gas turbine systems, as the continuous fundamental which increased in sales due to low prices. In addition, technology development has come to a close by the a proposal for the energy efficiency and safety end of this FY, the focus will move to the validation assessment of residential FC products will be phase in FY 2012. The Japan government has submitted to the International Electrotechnical clarified its policy on gradually reducing the Commission (IEC) next year. Although the dependence on nuclear power while accelerating the merchandization of residential FC products is only 1 development of high efficiency thermal power network, the local government raised a discussion on generation technology as an alteration. IGFC is a the site of the prospect mega-solar and high-efficiency triple-combined cycle power generation system which Gas Turbine Combined Cycle (GTCC) power plant at can boost the gas turbine with gasified coal fuels, Yumeshima District in Osaka Bay Area, as it would drive the steam turbine with waste heat and activate be related to the location of future industrial sites. the fuel cell system with hydrogen generated in the Besides, the government planned to construct a model coal gasification process, respectively. Therefore the district on 2900m2 (about 0.717 acres) of city land in efficiency of the generating equipment can be as high Tsurumi ward in which at least 20 detached housed as 60%. METI has set its goal to facilitate the early equipped with solar cells, fuel cells and storage application of IGFC and further accomplish an batteries would be built. The construction was ultimate coal fired thermal power generation that can expected to be completed by 2014-2015. (Sankei realize a zero CO2 emission by integrating with CO2 Shimbun, the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, September separation and recycling equipment in the future. 22nd, 2011) (Denki Shimbun, September 26th, 2011) 3. Initiatives of Public Utility Organizations 2. Local Initiatives On September 1st, the Center for Promotion of (1) Gifu Prefecture Natural Gas was renamed to "Advanced Cogeneration In Gifu prefecture, the local government provides and Energy Utilization Center Japan (ACEJ)". It was owners of detached houses and small business offices jointly established by cities gas companies, who have introduced the cutting-edge new-energy engineering companies and gas appliance equipment incorporating solar power equipment, FC manufacturers and has been dedicated to the and storage batteries into their buildings with a promotion of overall cogeneration systems to ordinary subsidy of half of their expenses or a maximum of 6 families. After the rename, it will include a million Yen per case. In the general accounting newly-established FC Office and operate under a new supplementary budget of Gifu prefecture, the structure. Professor Kashiwagi from Tokyo Institute allocation for this program accounts for 30 million Yen. of Technology was appointed the chairman of the (Chunichi Shimbun, September 2nd, 2011) board. (Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun, September 2nd, (2) Fukushima Prefecture 2011; Denki Shimbun, September 7th, 2011) The third supplementary budget request of Fukushima prefecture puts an emphasis on 4. Technology and Business Development of SOFC encouraging energy saving in order to overcome the (1) Hokkaido University power shortage. As an energy-saving eco-subsidy, a A research team led by Associate Professor Motohashi foundation grant of 100 billion Yen was established to from the Hokkaido University Graduate School of support the adoption of solar power generation Engineering has developed an oxygen storage equipment as well as storage batteries, and to finance material composed of only common elements. the construction of R&D base for renewable energy in Although made from naturally abundant elements the prefecture. In respect of eco-subsidy for ordinary including Calcium, Aluminum, Manganese and families, besides of former eligible items, including Oxygen, the new material exhibits excellent Oxygen solar power generation equipment and FC, the absorption and desorption characteristics, thus introduction of storage battery and energy important for the Element Strategy. Even a slight performance management systems were added into change in temperature and/or atmosphere can cause the list. (Fukushima Minpo, September 10th, 2011) the material to rapidly absorb and desorb a great (3) Osaka City volume of oxygen up to 3.0wt% (weight percent) in a On September 21st, Osaka government summarized reversible way. Hence it is highly expected to be used the "Osaka Energy Vision (Provisional)", presenting in the fields of Oxygen concentration as well as SOFC the city’s energy policy. With a vision of realizing a (solid oxide fuel cells). The team now works with locally produced and consumed electric energy Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in a joint research 2 project to improve the material's oxygen storage conductivity of 0.1S/cm. It is an organic-inorganic ability by optimizing the composition process and also hybrid material made from low-cost silicon and discuss the application of it. Metal oxides which can organic materials, possessing high heat resistance absorb and desorb a great amount of oxygen at low and easy to form membrane. Therefore, it can be used temperature in a reversible way, also known as as high polymer electrolyte in PEFC. As it features oxygen storage materials, are generally expected to be high proton conductivity even under used in diverse high-temperature processes regarding high-temperature without humidification, the use of productivity improvement and environmental platinum catalyst may be decreased and thus the cost protection. For example, new oxidation-reduction will be reduced. The new material developed by the catalysts based on oxygen storage materials can team is a phosphate-based proton conducting benefit environmental protection by means of compound containing double-decker-shaped low-carbon process, and latest high-performance silsesquioxane (PHOS-DDSQ). Composed by the electrode materials can accelerate the R&D of SOFC, components of glass and resin, the new material etc. At present, many research groups in Japan and exhibits unprecedented high heat and flame other countries are engaging in studies on improving resistances. Moreover, membranes can be easily the performance of existing materials such as the obtained by applying the solution of the material
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