THE LATEST NEWS NUMBER 209, 2013 FCDIC

SoftBank Launches Industrial FC Business Arranged by T. Homma

1. Governmental Measures Also, liquidized hydrogen filling stations will be able to (1) NEDO be installed in urban areas. The government aims New Energy and Industrial Technology Development FCVs to be commercialized in 2015 as a growth Organization (NEDO) has chosen Fukuoka City for strategy, and plans to prepare 100 hydrogen filling th the 20 Steering Committee Meeting of International stations nationwide by 2015. However, the current Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the figure of these filling stations stays at less than 20 due Economy (IPHE). The meeting will be held on two to high installation cost. To reduce the costs, METI th th days from 13 to 14 of November. Having plenty of intends to bring in cheaper steel, which is used related research facilities to show, Fukuoka City has overseas, to be used for storage tanks for hydrogen hosted international conventions in the hydrogen and refueling facilities for cost reduction. Stainless steel is fuel cell (FC) field. Also, Fukuoka Strategy Conference certified in the current standards, and cheaper for Hydrogen Energy has received an Excellence chromium molybdenum steel is planned to be usable Award in Leadership from IPHE. With these facts, for the tanks. The ministry will prepare the new NEDO determined the city is suitable for the occasion. standards to maintain safety to prevent explosion by IPHE was established in 2003 to build an FY 2014. Technical standards will be prepared for international cooperative framework to promote liquid hydrogen filling stations, which require smaller technology development, standardization, and space than other hydrogen facilities, for urban areas exchanging policy information. The organization within FY 2013. Currently only one liquid hydrogen consists of 17 members including Japan, USA, the refueling point operates in Tokyo, because the European Commission (EC) and China. (The standard is not yet set. Additionally, the inspection Chemical Daily, July 12, 2013) scheme for hydrogen tanks will be eased to support (2) METI FCV manufacturers’ development. At the moment, a th On July 24 , the minister Toshimitsu Motegi of the FCV is allowed to test run after its hydrogen tank is Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) had inspected. The deregulation lets FCVs to have test a meeting with the States Secretary of Energy Ernest runs without inspection of the tanks, and the Moniz of the United States Department of Energy manufacturers can simultaneously develop tanks and (DOE) at Washington. They released a joint statement vehicles. (, July 29, 2013; The Mainichi which the both countries agreed to cooperate to solve Newspapers, The Nikkei Business Daily, Osaka major bilateral energy issues. In the meeting, these Nichinichi Shimbun, The , The nations confirmed the importance of cooperation for , The , research and development including joint studies on Minami-Nippon Shimbun, The , hydrogen production and FCs carried out by National The Hokkoku Shimbun, Nihonkai Shimbun, The Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun, The Shinano Technology (AIST) and National laboratories of DOE. , The Toyama Shimbun, Saga (The Denki Shimbun, The Chemical Daily, July 26, Shimbun, Jomo Shinbun, The Kahoku Shimpo, Akita 2013) Sakigake Shimpo, , To-o Nippo, July 30, To promote fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), METI will ease 2013) the requirements for steel for hydrogen filling (3) MOE equipment, and lead to a maximum 30% reduction of The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) selected 14 the current cost which is ¥600 million for one facility. 1 http://www.fcdic.com/eng/index.html

projects including “large FC transit bus development wind and hydroelectric power, cogeneration and FC as by Hino Motors and Toyota Motor” in four fields as the well as home energy management system (HEMS) “Technology Development and Experiment Projects and building and energy management system for Reducing CO2 Emission” for FY 2013. This (BEMS). (Architectures, Constructions & governmental scheme is to promote technological Engineerings News (Daily), July 9, 2013) developments and experiments which strengthen (2) Saitama City measures against global warming in the future. The Saitama City will start a subsidy scheme to prepare ministry started the scheme from FY 2013 with a energy creation and refueling points “Hyper Energy budget of ¥3.9 billion for grants to help businesses, Stations” in July. A Hyper Energy Station is equipped which have projects potentially leading to large CO2 with a quick charger for electric vehicles (EVs), reduction. (The Chemical Daily, July 30, 2013) storage batteries, hydrogen filling facilities for FCVs (4) Shikoku Bureau of Economy, Trade & Industry and energy creation facilities such as a solar panels Shikoku Bureau of Economy, Trade & Industry and independent generators to help in the rapid certified a research and development plan of Morita restoration of transportation network during disasters. Giken, Anan City, based on the Act for the The city invites oil suppliers, and expects 10 projects “Sophistication of Basic Manufacturing Technology of to be subsidized. The maximum subsidy is around ¥7 Small and Medium Enterprises”. The firm will million, and a third of the preparation cost will be develop a “double belt press to serially produce FCs for supported. The projects must have installation of both automobiles” as the research and development project. chargers for EVs and energy creation facilities. (The Firms with certified projects are eligible for lower Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, July 10, 2013) interest loans by public sector financial institutions. (3) Shimane Prefecture (The Tokushima Shimbun, July 31, 2013) Shimane Prefecture will join a project of small (5) Council for Science and Technology Policy emergency FC generators using hydrogen that Rohm, On July 31st, the Council for Science and Technology Kyoto City, and Aquafairy, Kyoto City, are trying to Policy chose five fields including an economical energy commercialize. As an emergency power source, the system with lower environment impact for the policy group aims for commercialization in 2015. The to intensively distribute the science technology budget prefecture will cooperate on an experimental for FY 2014. In the energy field, the schedule for prototype. This fall, 20 prototypes of 200 Wh rated highly efficient generation technology development power will be developed to be tested. They will have lists targets such as commercialization of 1700°C level with the dimensions of 24 cm width, 34 cm depth and gas turbines, advanced ultra-supercritical generation 24 cm high and total weight of 6 to 7 kg. (The San-in and carbon dioxide capture and storage technology Chuo Shimpo, July 11, 2013) after 2020 as well as cost reduction of FCs. (The Denki Shimbun, August 2, 2013) 3. Technology Development of FC Related Element (1) Maezawa Kasei & Ryukoku University 2. Local Governmental Measures Maezawa Kasei and Ryukoku University are (1) Tokyo developing microbial fuel cells together, and created a The Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs of Tokyo small scale demonstration product which can be Metropolitan Government will support technology scaled up to microbial fuel cells. The firm is developing development of smaller businesses in three industrial “Asitis energy” (provisional name) in collaboration fields, health, environment and risk management with Ryukoku University. Anaerobic microorganisms which are expected to expand their markets globally. in activated sludge decompose and remove organic The environment field includes technology and matters in sewerage in a short period. Electrons can product developments on independent/distributed and be drawn to create current from organic matter in the renewable energy, and efficient utilization of energy as process when the microorganisms eat organic matter examples. The example products are generation for their multiplication. Because energy from technologies based on renewable energy such as solar, microorganisms’ growth is partially collected as

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electricity, this system can reduce unnecessary sludge. than a thermal power plant as well as the long term The group made a small demonstration product to contract, their plan is potentially cheaper than buying prove that the generation efficiency can be improved electricity from a utility firm for the same period. (The by adjusting the pH of the air cathode liquid Nikkei, July 18, 2013; , The Denki membrane over time. (The Chemical Daily, August 1, Shimbun, The Nikkei Business Daily, The Nikkan 2013) Kogyo Shimbun, The Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo (2) Hokkaido University Shimbun, July 19, 2013; The Nishinippon Shimbun, A study team of Prof. Jian Ping GONG at the August 3, 2013) Hokkaido University developed a very strong hydrogel which heals itself once it is cut and put 5. Ene-Farm Business Plans together. This hydrogel is over 100 times stronger (1) Taisei than conventional self-healing gel, and is potentially Taisei Housing Corporation renewed and reopened used for electrolyte and separators for FCs, material its showroom “Taisei Housing” on the 19th floor of the to mitigate seismic motion and biomaterial. A common Shinjuku Park Tower with “Smart Palcon Corner” material monomer is used for the hydrogel, which and “Apartment Corner” newly added. The Smart allows mass production at a low cost. Same amount of Palcon Corner explains how a smart house optimizes positively- and negatively-charged monomers were energy consumption using information technology, mixed at double the concentration of normal use, and and displays facilities used for the house such as exposure to ultraviolet light at room temperature for Ene-Farm and lithium ion battery (LIB). (The 11 hours to make the highly tough and self-healing Mainichi Newspapers, July 25, 2013) hydrogel. Various ionic monomers can also be used, (2) Daiwa House and softness of the gel can be adjusted by altering the Yamanashi Branch of Daiwa House will prepare concentration of monomers. Cut pieces of the gel stick land for a total of 30 housing lots where NHK Kofu together in three to ten hours. The team aims to broadcasting station was located in Iida, Kofu City. commercialize the gel in collaboration with a business. They recommend their energy saving house with (The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, The Chemical Daily, breathable external insulation wall, LIB and August 5, 2013) Ene-Farm. The lots are between 170 to 230 m2 and building cost is expected to be between ¥45,000 to 4. Business Plan of Professional-use FC ¥76,000 per a square meter. (The Yamanashi Softbank will start an industrial use FC business Nichinichi Shimbun, July 25, 2013) this fall. Large stationary FCs will be sold to offices, (3) Japan Gas Association hospitals and public facilities. The product is a solid On July 25th, the Japan Gas Association revealed the oxide fuel cell (SOFC) which uses natural gas and accumulated installed capacity of natural gas outputs 200 kW. The firm established Bloom Energy cogeneration for FY 2012 was 4,819 MW, a 6.3% or Japan in Tokyo, and will use and sell the FC at its 284 MW increase on that of the previous year. own office in Fukuoka City. Bloom Energy Japan is Ene-Farm has been also strong, and its accumulated capitalized at ¥2 billion equally by a US-based FC installed capacity ended at 145 MW, an 18.2% raise on venture Bloom Energy and Softbank. The SOFC from that of the previous year. Total Ene-Farm installation Bloom Energy produces electricity with an average finished at 149,902 units a 19.9% increases on that of 52% high generation efficiency, and supplies Google the previous year. (The Nikkei, The Denki Shimbun, and Coca-Cola with energy in the states. Softbank will The Nikkei Business Daily, Fuji Sankei Business i, charge more per unit of energy to spread the facility July 26, 2013) cost to eliminate the initial investment of its (4) Mitsui Fudosan Residential customers expecting a long contract of about 20 years. On July 24, Mitsui Fudosan Residential revealed to The fee will be collected monthly or yearly and the press its ready build houses for sale “Fine Court includes electricity, maintenance, gas and facility costs Otsuka” which is advertised as the first smart house of the FC. Because the FC generates more efficiently project in Japan. Their smart house is equipped with

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Ene-Farm, home storage battery and HEMS as July 20th and will last until next March. Six EVs of standard specification, and can annually save up to “New Mobility Concept” taking one to two people by 55% energy consumption on that of an average Nissan Motor are offered for ¥8,400 a day. Two household. The Ene-Farm provides 60% of the charging points are located on the island. As an electricity requirement, and cheaper energy is stored experiment Softbank Mobile provides its system to in the storage battery (7.2 kWh) at night to be used in confirm energy changing information under a day, which allows the house to require very little development. As well as environmental performance, electricity during daytime from Tokyo Electric Power Microcars have been gaining attention as a next Company (TEPCO). Photovoltaic generators and EV generation vehicle easily driven by elderly people. The power station are optional for all the smart houses. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Because these houses can be run by energy from Tourism (MLIT) simplified the certification scheme to Ene-Farm and the storage battery most of the time, drive public roads in January to promote the vehicle. most of the electricity from the photovoltaic (The Nikkei, July 20, 2013) generators can be sold to TEPCO. The house sales will (2) Nissan & Renault starts from next weekend. (The Denki Shimbun, July Nissan Motor and France-based Renault target 1.5 26, 2013) million vehicles of accumulated EV sales by FY 2016, (5) Osaka Gas although they are considering extending the period. A On July 30th, Osaka Gas announced the development of new type energy “shale gas” has accumulated sales figure of domestic natural gas reduced gasoline price, and the charging cogeneration had reached 99,000 units by the end of infrastructure has not been prepared as expected, June and was expected to reach 100,000 units in which has caused slow sales. However, the firms are August. The firm has sold Ecowill since 2003, and keeping the target figures and the active sales Ene-Farm was added to its product range in 2009. activities for EVs. Nissan has sold approximately The accumulated sales of natural gas Ene-Farm and 70,000 vehicles of EV “Leaf”, and Renault introduced Ecowill of the major natural gas suppliers are; four EVs into the market. Nissan plans to introduce approximately 34,000 units for Tokyo gas, three more EVs by FY 2016 into the market. approximately 17,600 units for Toho Gas, and Production lines have been prepared in Japan, the US approximately 7,400 units for Saibugas. (The Kyoto and Europe to produce locally, and the production Shimbun, The Kobe Shimbun, Nara Newspaper, July costs have been reduced to lower consumer prices for 31, 2013) sales growth. (The Nikkei, July 13, 2013) On July 23rd, Nissan Motor and Renault announced 6. FCV & EV Cutting Edge Technologies EV accumulated sales reached 100,000 vehicles (1) Softbank & Nissan combining both firms’. Nissan has sold 71,000 vehicles Softbank developed an EV charger system which of Leaf, and Renault has sold 30,000 vehicles of four allows users to pay by amount. The system will be types of EVs. (The Nikkei, July 24, 2013) tested from July 20th in Teshima, Kagawa Prefecture. (3) Tokyo Metropolitan University When the charger is connected to an EV, the system LIB performance has been improving with will send vehicle and user information and charged technological development. Prof. Kiyoshi Kanamura amount to a dedicated server via internet. The user of the Tokyo Metropolitan University and Dainippon will be billed the amount of electricity charged Screen Mfg established a method to create electrodes afterwards. The firm expects filling stations and car with microscopic asperities on surface by using ink-jet dealers as the target customers for the product, and technology. Electrode material is sprayed on a metal will consider the commercialization with experiment plate to make large numbers of 70μm wide and 150μ results. (The Nikkei, July 10, 2013) m high asperities. With the new technology, a trial Microcars are available, as an experiment, for battery was made double the thickness. The capacity tourists to hire in Teshima, an island on Seto Inland was doubled. The power output hardly changed, Sea, Kagawa Prefecture. The experiment started on although output dropped to a quarter in previous

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studies. Microscopic grooves potentially reduce electric funded by Rakuten, and operates the charger resistance. The durability and production cost are installation. The charger can also power a house, and expected to be the same as conventional products. The will sell for ¥567,000 including installation. (The university and firm aim for the method to be Nikkei, July 23, 2013) commercialized for EVs. (The Nikkei, July 16, 2013) (8) BMW (4) Honda On July 22nd, Germany-based BMW announced that On July 16th, Mr. Koich Fukuo, a managing its first mass produced EV “i3” would be available executive officer of Honda Motor expressed the from November in Germany. The EV will sell for € Honda’s intension to use technology of GM, the 34,950 (approximately ¥4.6 million). This small partner, for the FCV to be available from 2015. This four-seater car drives 160 km on a single charge. The month, Honda also announced that FC systems would automaker will start the sales in Europe first, and be developed in 2020 in collaboration with GM. (The plans to sell the car in Japan and the US from 2014. Nikkei, July 16, 2013; The , The (The Nikkei, July 23, 2013) , The Nikkei Business Daily, The (9) Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun, The four auto giants, Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, The , The Chunichi Shimbun, The Honda Motor and Mitsubishi Motors will cooperate to Tokushima Shimbun, The Yamaguchi Shimbun, The prepare chargers for EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles Kitanippon Shimbun, Yamagata News, Oita Godo (PHVs). On July 29th, the automakers announced the Shimbun, Fuji Sankei Business i, The To-o Nippo total number of chargers would be increase to 12,000 Press, July 17, 2013) by the fall of 2014, from the current 4,700 in Japan, as (5) Nissan a joint effort. Charger installation at public facilities Nissan Motor will install quick chargers to recharge will be subsidized by the four firms. Specifically the “LEAF” at 100 leading dealers in the US. The firm number of quick chargers in Japan aims to be 4,000 installed 24 chargers at dealers on the west coast to units, over double the current figure. Charging investigate usage trend, and will deploy chargers to infrastructure will be improved to promote the EV meet the demand throughout the states. In Japan, and PHV. Chargers should be increasingly installed chargers are equipped at 800 dealers as of the end of with the governmental subsidy and automakers’ March. The automaker also will use more renewable promotional support. (The Nikkei, July 27, 2013; The energy in its domestic bases, and supply dealers with , The Kobe Shimbun, Kanagawa the energy for EV chargers to satisfy environmentally Shimbun, The , The Nishinippon consciousness customers. (The Nikkei, July 21, 2013) Shimbun, The Shikoku Shimbun, The Hokkaido (6) Taiyo Yuden Shimbun, The Kitanippon Shimbun, Minami-Nippon Taiyo Yuden developed a 1 kW power output charger, Shimbun, The Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun, The and will enter the charger market for electric Ibaraki Shimbun, The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, motorcycles. The sales activity will start by the end of Gifu Shimbun, The Toyama Shimbun, The Saga the year targeting automakers and other Shimbun, Miyazaki Nichinichi Shimbun, Oita Godo manufacturers worldwide. The capacity of the 1 kW Shimbun, The Hokkoku Shimbun, Yamagata News, type charger is 60% smaller than conventional Akita Sakigake Shimpo, Chiba Nippo, The Niigata products of other manufacturers. The firm will Nippo, Iwate Nippo, The Fukushima Minyu Shimbun, develop an EV charger and aim at ¥1 to ¥1.5 billion July 30, 2013) sales in FY 2015. (The Nikkei, July 21, 2013) (10) Patent Ranking Related to FCVs (7) Rakuten Patent Result which analyzes patents, Tokyo, Rakuten will enter the home EV charger market. revealed a comprehensive patent rank of FCV The charger for Nissan’s EV “LEAF” will be available businesses. The analysis is based on patents from July 23rd on a website “Rakuten Solar” which publicized in the US by July 29th. As well as number of sells photovoltaic generation systems. Ecosystem patent applications, the number of patents cited in Japan, a photovoltaic generation system seller, is other patents was evaluated. The result shows GM

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(score: 2596) as the top, followed by Toyota Motor (2nd: FCVs. The research and development department 2457), Honda (3rd: 2391), Panasonic (4th), South previously operated promotions. The new team has Korea-Based Samsung SDI (5th). Nissan Motor is taken over the function to create a unified system placed as 14th with 532 points. (The Tokyo Shimbun, covering hydrogen production, transportation and Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun, The Shizuoka Shimbun, sales as soon as possible, which potentially supports The Chunichi Shimbun, The Sanyo Shimbun, The the growth of FCVs coming into the market in 2015. A Shikoku Shimbun, The Nishinippon Shimbun, The new team “Hydrogen Station Project Group” is set Kitanippon Shimbun, Minami-Nippon Shimbun, The under Corporate Planning & Management Hokkoku Shimbun, The Toyama Shimbun, The Department which makes management strategies. Hokkaido Shimbun, Nara Newspaper, Gifu Shimbun, The team will investigate in what kind of areas the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, Miyazaki Nichinichi firm should install hydrogen filling stations as well as Shimbun, Oita Godo Shimbun, The Saga Shimbun, moving up the schedule. (The Nikkei Business Daily, Nihonkai Shimbun, Shimotsuke Shimbun, Iwate July 31, 2013) Nippo, Chiba Nippo, The San-in Chuo Shimpo, On August 1, 2013, JX Nippon Oil & Energy , The Fukushima Minyu Shimbun, developed a refining facility to produce higher purity July 30, 2013) hydrogen for FCVs. The facility has a membrane (11) Shin-Etsu Chemical which uses palladium to separate hydrogen and a Shin-Etsu Chemical developed a new material for membrane which captures CO2 to produce CO2 LIBs which are used for EVs and smartphones. Sheet reduced hydrogen from fossil fuel. The CO2 capture material is required to store electricity in a battery. rate is improved approximately 20% over Currently LIBs use carbon materials, but the firm conventional technology, and production costs can be replaces them with silicon by using its technology for reduced by approximately 10%. The facility will be semiconductor wafers. Although silicon is more tested from September to be commercialized after expensive than carbon materials, it characteristically 2016. The firm installed a production facility to stores 10 times more energy. Samples were developed produce hydrogen in a petroleum refinery process in and globally distributed to battery manufacturers. mid-2010, and plans to develop a unified system from With battery manufacturers’ cooperation, the firm will production to sale of hydrogen. (The Nikkei, August 2, investigate deformation and degradation whilst the 2013) material is used and the production cost for On August 1, JX Nippon Oil & Energy revealed its commercialization. (The Nikkei, August 1, 2013) Central Technical Research Laboratory to the press. (12) Panasonic, Toshiba, Mitsui Fudosan, Chiyoda, Focusing on hydrogen technology in which the firm Odakyu devotes its energy, refinery and storage facilities of Five firms Panasonic, Toshiba, Mitsui Fudosan, hydrogen for FCVs were shown as well as the latest Chiyoda Corporation, and Odakyu Electric Railway information of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) have just joined the political-bureaucrat-business and SOFC.A For more stable drive, FCV motor research group “Promotion Workshop to Realize a requires higher purity hydrogen, of 99.9999% instead Hydrogen Society with FCVs as Core” which already of 99.99% which is used for ordinary petroleum has seven business members including Toyota Motor. refining. Additionally commercialization of a highly The group studies actual measures regulations and efficient refining facility is another large issue to be budget allocation for FCVs and domestic FC systems. solved to expand the FCV and hydrogen energy (The Nikkei, August 4, 2013) market in future. The facility under development has realized 90% capturing rate and 83% energy efficiency. 7. Hydrogen Filling Station Technology Developments Cost reduction of the facility is next. On the other and Business Plans hand, the firm is developing a container of (1) JX Energy carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, which is lightweight JX Nippon Oil & Energy established a new dedicated and very strong, to transport and store hydrogen. (The team to develop a strategy for hydrogen businesses for Denki Shimbun, The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, August

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2, 2013) which causes damage in FC, in the spring of 2012, (2) Shinko EN & M and also supplies those who buy the bubble sensors To prepare for FCV growth, Shinko Engineering & with a sensor to measure water purity. The electrode Maintenance aims to expand orders for hydrogen structure of the sensor to measure the purity of water filling stations by riding on the strength of a total was improved to also detect bubbles, as a energy engineering, combining its hydrogen filling multi-function sensor. The product uses expensive unsteady simulation technology and Kobe Steel’s high fluororesin, which repels water, in the bubble sensor pressure hydrogen compressor and precooler. 10 part. However the manufacturer has kept the orders for FY 2013, their target for FY 2015 is 40 production cost down due to minimal fluororesin orders which are a half that of currently planned usage. (The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, July 10, hydrogen filling stations. As test facilities for hydrogen 2013) filling stations, the plant department of Shinko EN & (2) FIS M designed three skid mount systems for Kobe Steel’s FIS, Itami City, will provide a hydrogen sensor which hydrogen compressor in FY 2012, and the Takasago can detect very low level of hydrogen as a safety office installed prefabricated piping giving the firm measure for FCVs in 2013. The product is a experience. Because the installation of hydrogen semiconductor sensor which detects a change in filling stations is expected to increase, the firm aims to resistance when gas is captured on surface of metal increase orders by cooperating with its group oxide, and will be supplied to an automaker in Japan. companies more and offering a comprehensive system. Since the contract, a dedicated mass production (Japan Metal Daily, August 1, 2013) facility will be installed in the Production Technology Research Center. The firm produces 8 million 8. Hydrogen Production and Refining Technology semiconductor gas sensors each year to detect Development pollution in air for air purifiers and alcohol for alcohol The leading material firm BASF, an industrial gas detectors, and keeps high global market share. (The supplier Linde and a steel manufacturer Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, July 16, 2013) ThyssenKrupp of Germany will jointly research to use CO2 as a raw material. They aim to establish 10. FC Related R&D and Business Plans of Private environmentally friendly methods to produce syngas, Sector which is an industrial chemical, and to extract (1) Toray hydrogen and carbon from natural gas. A method to Toray is accelerating development of materials for separate hydrogen and carbon from natural gas in FCs. They develop their own materials for electrode supercritical state will be developed as one of two substrates and electrolyte membranes of the four researches. The firms aim to reduce by half the main parts of FC stacks, as well as production, and emission of CO2 from that of current hydrogen are the only manufacturer to do this. For substrate, a reforming from natural gas. A lower cost syngas gas diffusion layer was developed using carbon paper production method will be studied by using a base on which carbon fiber technology is applied. hydrogen and CO2 reaction. (The Nikkei Business Ready for full introduction of FCVs, a large scale Daily, July 10, 2013) production facility for the gas diffusion layer was already installed as well as dedicated development 9. Measuring and Observation Technology facility to prepare a system to cover basic study to Developments and Business Plans production. Also, hydrocarbon electrolyte membranes (1) Ogihara MFG have been researched since 2000, and its Small pumps and water treatment systems commercialization is planned. Toray is having manufacturer Ogihara MFG, Shimosuwa-machi negotiation with auto giants for the electrolyte started to develop a multi-function sensor which membrane, and the mass production method will soon replaces two sensors. The firm started the commercial be established. Additionally, carbon fiber, of which the production of a sensor to detect bubbles in water, firm has large share, for high pressure hydrogen

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tanks will be improved and optimized for FCVs to be (5) Mitsubishi Gas Chemical commercially produced from 2015 and hydrogen Mitsubishi Gas Chemical developed a portable tanker trucks. The carbon fiber for stationary tanks generation system as an application development of has gone ahead, and the firm targets at its original direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The approximately ¥3.5 billion sales around 2020. (The system consists of LIB and DMFC using a methanol Chemical Daily, July 16, 2013) solution as the fuel, and works as an uninterruptible (2) Toray Engineering power supply. With fuel being supplied, the product Toray Engineering, Tokyo, will fortify its business for operates eight hours, and is quieter than a FC production process. Various production facilities conventional gasoline generator. NOX, SOX and CO will be sold for assembly and material process, such as are not produced, which allows the system to be used catalyst layer formation with coating technologies and indoors. With proportions of 335 mm, 480 mm and hot roll presses to join function membranes. For 300 mm, the DMFC uses an originally developed material processes, the facilities can be used mainly stack with a 300 W level power output. The system for catalyst layer as well as carbon paper process, and gained a high result from an experiment with end formation of packing. The firm plans to develop its FC users, and the firm aims early commercialization. related business with ¥3 billion sales. (The Nikkan (The Chemical Daily, July 22, 2013) Kogyo Shimbun, The Chemical Daily, July 16, 2013) (6) Railway Technical Research Institute (3) Nakayama Amorphous The Railway Technical Research Institute has A venture amorphous metal producer Nakayama started a research, development and new technology Amorphous, Osaka City, will start in the FC material application for train operators to be more business in 2014. As a start, samples of current environmentally friendly. The government will invite collectors for domestic FCs will be distributed from energy saving plans from train operators from FY early 2014. A current collector collects electricity 2013, and subsidy will be allocated depending on produced in cells, and is required to be conductive and project plans. As a part of new attempt, the drive highly resistant to corrosion due to contact with dilute control laboratory lead by Mr. Yamamoto of the sulfuric acid. Amorphous alloy is a potentially institute is developing a hybrid train using FCs and advantageous material for the collector. The firm storage batteries to be commercialized by 2020. (The plans to start and commercialize a business of Asahi Shimbun, July 24, 2013) separators for FCVs in 2015 when the FCV market is (7) Ogura Clutch expected to be established. (The Nikkan Kogyo Ogura Clutch will produce and promote a small roots Shimbun, July 16, 2013) blower, a supercharger for machines as a next (4) Nisshinbo Chemical generation product. As well as a supercharger, new Nisshinbo Chemical will strengthen its range of FC applications are largely sought in the environment related materials and its multifunction resin material field such as diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and FCs “Carbodilite”, which is expected to expand the for the product. Also, the product is expected to be demand, and aims at over ¥10 billion sales for 2013. used for a hydrogen circulating pump for FCs. Due to For FCs, their separator business is planned to its lightweight, Ballard Power Systems uses the expand, and the development will be accelerated to product as well as Volvo’s construction machinery. commercialize carbon alloy catalysts to replace Because the product application is expanding to next platinum. Having the highest share for domestic FCs, generation vehicles, Ogura Clutch decided to increase their carbon separator with their own process production. (Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun, August 1, technology is characteristically resistant to corrosion, 2013) conductive, very strong and thin. Having no rare materials, the carbon alloy catalyst uses carbon as the ─ This edition is made up as of August 5, 2013 ― main ingredient allowing industrial production. Due to stable carbon supply, FC cost can be largely reduced. (The Chemical Daily, July 18, 2013)

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