Large-Scale Project Starting for Hydrogen Storage in Fukushima
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE LATEST NEWS NUMBER 257, 2017 FCDIC THE LATEST NEWS NUMBER 2 5 6 , 201 7 FCDIC Large-scale Project Starting for Hydrogen Storage in Fukushima MBER 220, 2014 FCDIC Reported by K. Onda 1. Governmental Measures For CO2 free hydrogen to be widely used, the report says that (1) MOE design of institutional arrangements will be required including st On March 1 , the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) use of power to gas (P2G) and reduction in CO2 of the showed a draft of the long-term vision of reduction in carbon hydrogen supply chain. To do so, the hydrogen production emissions towards 2050 to related members of the Central process from fossil fuel should be combined with CO2 capture Environment Council. To hit the target of a reduction in and storage (CCS). To increase renewable energy use, greenhouse gas by 80%, they will start discussion on the design hydrogen is an effective mean for energy storage to stabilize of institutional arrangements to trigger changes in all directions the power grid. Water electrolysis technology needs to in April. The vision clearly states an aim to be the advanced improve, and it is important to develop a technology to 3 country in solutions to achieve the world’s most significant achieve ¥260,000/(Nm /hr). Another agenda is defining CO2 reduction in carbon emissions while being economically free hydrogen. The report also suggests the use of power successful by connecting the measures to economic growth and transport from one supplier to another through the existing regeneration of regional areas. In the automobile areas, electric power grid, tradable green certificates, and a reduction in vehicles (EVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are expected to greenhouse gas emissions/carbon offset credit for smooth CO2 take a significant part, and transport will become more efficient free hydrogen trade. Renewable energy has increased the through carsharing and automated driving technology. EVs output by the governmental feed-in tariff (FIT). However, this while they are parked are expected to take a role to adjust will increase utility bills of consumers. Also growing oversupply and shortage of power in communities. Logistics renewable energy is putting pressure on the power grid, and will improve efficiency using artificial intelligence (AI) and the stabilizing the power grid is a big problem. Considering these, Internet of Things (IoT). Earlier introduction of carbon pricing hydrogen is expected to make distribution of renewable such as carbon tax and emissions trading is expected. (Nikkan energy even and to moderate the output. (The Chemical Daily, Jidosha Shimbun, March 2, 2017) March 9, 2017; Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun, March 10, 2017) (2) German Government (4) Gas Safety Subcommittee of METI The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Hydrogen is planned to be supplied to FCs in the athletes’ of Germany has announced that €0.25 billion, about ¥30 billion, village of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics from a would be invested in research and development of hydrogen hydrogen refueling station through about a 1.2 km pipe. and fuel cells (FCs) in the transport area over the period until Natural gas is odorless, but a smell is added from a safety point 2026 to back up FCVs and hydrogen infrastructure preparation. of view. Tokyo has planned out to supply hydrogen without this This might lead more cooperation with Japan. Daimler and additive, and METI says that it is important to make sure to BMW have a long history of hydrogen energy. (The Nikkei, keep the same safety level of gas with smell. The ministry March 4, 2017) indicated its direction of hydrogen supply through pipes at a (3) METI meeting of the Gas Safety Subcommittee held on March 10th. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has The technical standards of natural gas supply through pipes can published the report of a meeting of the working group on be applied to hydrogen. An alternative detection mean for CO2 free hydrogen of the Hydrogen/FC Strategic Committee. hydrogen supply through pipes without smell is shown. For 1 http://www.fcdic.com/eng/index.html example, airtightness tests are to be carried out while hydrogen (The Nikkei Business Daily, February 17, 2017) supply is stopped, and leak detection holes are to be installed (2) Muroran City for constant monitoring. The odorant obligated by the Gas The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Business Act reduces FC performance, and FCs are required to (MLIT) has selected four projects including Muroran Green have deodorizing equipment. Tokyo will chose a construction Energy Town Concept of Muroran City for the Minister’s prize operator in FY2017, and develop a solid plan. METI will of the “First Advanced City Planning Competition”. Muroran discuss technical specification and safety measures at the Gas has developed as a manufacturing city focusing on steel works, Safety Subcommittee as soon as the technical requirements and has promoted the environmental industry with advanced such as pipes are announced. (The Denki Shimbun, March 13, technologies, human resources, logistics and research and 2017) development organizations grown from manufacturing. Their (5) Talk by Lovins and Arent concept has been carried out with the cooperation of industry, Mr. Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute and Mr. government, academia and residents, aiming to double the Doug Arent of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory current use of hydrogen, renewable and unused energy. The (NREL) both in the US are visiting Japan. Holding a press city also saw advantages of hydrogen energy in an early stage, conference in Tokyo, they said that wind and solar power was and has introduced unified use of hydrogen refueling station expanding by reducing the costs, and this expansion trend of and FCVs. The local government is taking a lead in renewable energy was not likely to change under the Trump ENE-FARM use by installing the FCs at public facilities, and administration. It will take four years to withdraw from the encouraging businesses to enter the hydrogen related industry. Paris Agreement and, the government will be split into two for (Japan Metal Daily, February 23, 2017) this issue. Moreover, many businesses and states assent to the (3) Setagaya City agreement. The majority of the energy policies in the US are Setagaya City will hire a FCV for ¥1 million each year from led by states and businesses, and the scope of the federal April for its operation. A hydrogen refueling station will be government for the policy is limited. Renewable energy in the prepared in the city, and will be installed on a large truck to be US has largely grown due to technological innovation. mobile. The city will invest ¥3.42 million to prepare power Assuming the battery price is to go down to a quarter in six source on its own land, and a business will operate the station years, the EV price is expected to be level with conventional there by paying for other equipment and maintenance costs. cars by 2020, and EVs and renewable energy combination are (The Asahi Shimbun, March 1, 2017) anticipated to promote distributed power use. Tomas Kåberger (4) Yokohama City from the Renewable Energy Institute said that the cost of Yokohama City will install hydrogen production equipment renewable energy had been significantly reduced in Europe and at Yokohama Wind Power Plant (Hama Wing) of which the support competition in the industry. He also pointed out slow annual output is 2,200 MW/hour to use some of electricity to growth of renewable energy in Japan. (Nikkan Jidosha produce hydrogen to store for fuel of FC forklifts to be used in Shimbun, March 13, 2017) the warehouse of the Central Wholesale market from FY2017. Last December, the construction started to install a storage 2. Local Governmental Measures battery of 0.15 MW/hour, water electrolysis for hydrogen (1) Hokkaido production and hydrogen storage tank on the premises of the In April, Hokkaido will launch the “New Energy Promotion power plant. The construction is planned to be completed in the Foundation” to support the introduction of new energy use summer of 2017. Hydrogen will be compressed to be loaded such as wind and biomass in its area from FY2017 to back up on hydrogen transport vehicles, and will be used at the local governments and businesses for mid- to long-term period. wholesale market and the Yokohama Plant of Kirin Brewery The total foundation is about ¥6 billion over five years. For Company. (The Nikkei Business Daily, March 2, 2017) FY2017, ¥1.2 billion is expected to be allocated. The (5) Kyoto City & Honda Cars Kyoto foundation aims to give continuous support rather than a Kyoto City will start the first hands-on hydrogen education subsidy to apply every year. Foundation projects cover new project in Japan in cooperation with Honda Cars Kyoto (HC energy and energy saving, and are planned to be carried out in Kyoto), and try to spread hydrogen energy use by using smart four areas in Hokkaido. The subjects of the foundation will hydrogen refueling station and FCVs. Having been contracted include preparation of hydrogen refueling stations for FCVs. from Kyoto City, HC Kyoto opened a smart hydrogen 2 http://www.fcdic.com/eng/index.html refueling station jointly developed with Iwatani in of 5kW output, and an experimental project is testing a system Yamashina-ku, Kyoto City. The education center will have to supply electricity, water and hot water during disasters with three vehicles of CLARITY FUEL CELL, and produce Seiryu Power Energy of Gifu City. (Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun, hydrogen using solar power to aim to give residents February 27, 2017) experience-based education explaining the system of hydrogen (3) AIST & Atsumitec society.