Through the demonstration project, the companies aim to build a model of local production, using the produced hydrogen in the plant gas furnace.

Denso Fukushima has built solar and wind power generation systems on its premises, replacing electricity from fossil fuels with renewable energy derived from private power generation.

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system equipment developed by Toyota will be introduced to produce hydrogen through the electrolysis of water.

Renewable energy derived from private power generation at Denso Fukushima will be used to produce hydrogen. The PEM electrolyzer system offers high reliability and durability and low initial costs by using the same stack-related components as Toyota’s FCEV MIRAI, making it possible to produce hydrogen more cheaply than before.

LP gas, which is used in the afterburner furnace to make the exhaust gases generated in the plant harmless, will be replaced by hydrogen produced in-house.

Combustion of hydrogen at high temperature generates Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) gas. The burner structure has been improved to achieve gentle mixing and combustion of hydrogen and air.

The combustion temperature in the furnaces has been lowered by using combustion simulation technology refined in the manufacture of automotive component, thereby suppressing NOx gas emissions and reducing energy consumption.

The self-consumption of hydrogen produced in-house will help also cut transport costs, one of the issues involving hydrogen.

The project aims to expand the partnership to promote the use of hydrogen in the Fukushima region, with Denso Fukushima serving as the hub, and spread the model of local production for local consumption of hydrogen from Fukushima Prefecture to the rest of Japan.

Today it was also announced that H2U Technologies and Tokyo Gas have entered into a partnership to develop low-cost electrolysers to produce hydrogen.

Read more:  H2U and Tokyo Gas partner to develop low-cost electrolysers for hydrogen