fc expo 2008 - admin.ch · fc expo 2008, february 27-29, ... the three-day event was an opportunity...

Embassy of Switzerland in Japan

State Secretariat for Education and Research SER

FC Expo 2008, February 27-29, 2008 • Felix Moesner, Science & Technology Attaché of 53

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confédération suisse Confederazione Svizzera Confederaziun svizra

Swiss Pavilion at FC Expo 2008 Summary The Swiss Pavilion at the FC EXPO 2008 held in Tokyo was organized for the third time by the Swiss Science & Technology Office to present Swiss excellence in fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. Six Swiss companies (incl. a future ETH Zurich spin-off company), two federal research institutions, an industry association, and two promotion agencies under the umbrella of the Swiss Embassy, participated in the world’s largest international exhibition. The Swiss Ambassador, Mr. Paul Fivat visited the floor and witnessed the latest products and research results in the field. Swiss TV made a report which aired in Switzerland, and a Japanese newspaper published an interview. The three-day event was an opportunity to present the high quality of research and education in Switzerland.

The FC Expo 2008 (www.fcexpo.jp/english/), with its exhibition, academic forum and technical conferences, was held from 27 to 29, February 2008 in Tokyo. It showcased the most up to date development of products/ technologies related to R&D and manufacturing of fuel cells and hydrogen, as an answer to the calling from industrial, governmental and academic circles for an opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions. The wide range of exhibitions – from components and materials to comprehend-sive fuel cell systems and applications, manufacturing/pro-cessing technologies, hydrogen production/storage/supply

systems, equipments evaluation/ testing/analysis – was even more marked than the previous year. Renewable energy, including hydrogen, is gaining heightened attention in many parts of the world with cli-mate change progressing rapidly. Japan has positioned itself as a pioneer nation in this area, and its impor-tance as one of the centers for advanced fuel cell technologies has grown substantially. The fuel cell and hy-drogen technology also clearly remains a key part of its long-term policy.

The Swiss Pavilion was very successful in attracting much interest in Switzerland’s top-notch fuel cell & hydrogen technologies. The participants, leveraging their experience from previous years, displayed demos and prototypes which attracted more crowd to the booth. This also resulted in a more-than-expected requests for meetings and business opportunities for the participants. With environmental awareness growing around the globe, the FC EXPO is on track for continuous growth, after renewing the record number of visitors in 2008. Given the success of yet another year, the Swiss Pavilion is likely to fol-low the same trend at the FC Expo 2009.

FC Expo 2009 will take place from 25-27 February 2009. Interested parties are welcome to contact the Swiss Science Office in Tokyo; [email protected] Swiss Pavilion The Swiss Pavilion attracted a vast number of visitors with its eye-catching design; lit up logos and a long open space facing the aisle, unique for a national pavilion, which enabled the most efficient exposure for all. The demonstrations and prototypes displayed by the participants, as seen in the pictures below, also gathered much attention. More than 300 contacts were made with visitors expressing interest for potential business or academic collaboration.

Group picture with the Ambassador Mr. Fivat

http://www.fcexpo.jp/english/

mailto:[email protected]





The Swiss Pavilion was brought into being by the Science & Technology Office of the Swiss Embassy in To-kyo. Swiss Participants and Sponsors: Both, Hydropole and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy provided great support to identify and contact potential participants to the Swiss Pavilion. Five companies, a major national research institute, a major national university with a project set to become a start-up, an industry association, as well as the Swiss investment promoter joined our activities at the Swiss Pavilion. Swiss Pavilion organizer: • Science & Technology Office Japan

Embassy of Switzerland 5-9-12 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8589 www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo_emb

Contact: Dr. Felix Moesner Science & Technology Attaché Telephone +81 3 5449 8400 Official Email: [email protected]

Corporate participants: • CEKA Elektrowerkzeuge AG • EMPA • ETH Zurich (spin-off) • European Fuel Cell Forum

• MES-DEA SA • Hexis AG • HTceramix SA • IHT Industry High Technology SA

Sponsors and non-corporate participants: • Embassy of Switzerland in Japan • Presence Switzerland • State Secretariat for Education and Research • Swiss Federal Office of Energy • Hydropole

• OSEC • Swiss Foreign Investment Agency • Swiss Business Hub Japan • Office for Professional Education and Tech. OPET • Innovation Promotion Agency CTI

Supported by: • energy-cluster.ch • Zurich University of Applied Sciences

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Left : Ambassador Fivat visiting the Swiss Pavilion. Demos and prototypes on dis-play.

http://www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo_emb






Media Relations Mr. Georges Baumgartner, Swiss Television (TSR) made a report on the Swiss Pavilion which was broadcast during the national news program on March 2, 2008. http://helix-v2.sri.ch/ramgen/tsr/tj/2008/tj_03022008-451k.rm?start=0:11:11.70&end=0:13:14.00

Meanwhile, in Japan, the Daily Automotive newspaper ran a story based on an inter-view with Professor An-dreas Zuettel, on the outlook of Hydrogen technology and the reason for its importance in Switzer-land. Testimonials All participants have been quite satisfied with their presence at the Swiss Pavilion. Please find their testimo-nials in the following: CEKA Since CEKA did only participate with a poster and an exhibit but without presence in Tokyo, my comments concern only the organization before the Expo: it was, as last year, very very good. I hope to be able to par-ticipate in person next year. EMPA The organization and the support at the Swiss Pavilion was excellent, especially also from the Japanese col-laborators which were a great help in facilitating the communication. The design and the construction of the Pavilion was very nice and very well done. Overall this was the best organized and performed exhibition I ever participated. ETH Zurich The FC EXPO 2008 was highly interesting for our field on micro-fuel cells. It was interesting to meet and learn from engineers already working on different types of micro-fuel cells. As micro-solid oxide fuel cells are really new, it was interesting to get feedback from Japanese companies. Future discussions will elucidate whether cooperation is possible. European Fuel Cell Forum This is certainly the largest show about hydrogen and fuel cells with respect to the number of rented stands and the number of participants. However, one should realize that about on third of the exhibitors showed general hardware like valves, fittings, sheet metal parts, electric components etc. and one of six booths were occupied by journals, associations and governments. Only 50% of the exhibition was connected to hydrogen and fuel cells with hardly any systems shown in operation. The automobile companies displayed the results of their development programs and left the question open, when the hydrogen infrastructure will be in place, if at all, for fuelling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In light of the uncertainty about the hydrogen economy and the certainty about the introduction of battery electric vehicles, most of the show was not much more than another manifestation of the hydrogen hype. It was good to serve on the Swiss Pavilion where two Solid Ox-ide Fuel Cell System, good SOFC research and the next European SOFC Forum in Lucerne was presented. HEXIS Swiss Pavilion on the FC EXPO Tokyo: Excellently organized and cordially coached, and this one of the most important events in fuel cell scene.

http://helix-v2.sri.ch/ramgen/tsr/tj/2008/tj_03022008





HTceramix At this exhibition, you feel the heart of this new exciting industry beating! Meeting both suppliers and cus-tomers at the same place, shaping the emerging value chain to translate technology into products. IHT The FC EXPO08 in Tokyo has been again an exceptional event for IHT. Not only from the human point of view but also on the potential business level, this expo is for sure one of the most efficient worldwide. Col-lecting information and meeting with other exhibitors from different fields in such a large exposition confirm us the importance of the future hydrogen economy in which IHT will definitely play a key role as a manufac-turer of electrolysers. After having had plenty of interesting meetings with high qualified professionals from the hydrogen, IHT is confident that it will enter in a near future in the Asian market and build up profitable business and durable relationships. MES-DEA In spite of my absence, all our instructions were carried out with great competence, timeline and accuracy. Swiss Foreign Investment Agency Most of the visitors were professionals and had positive interest in the EXPO. Therefore, this EXPO was ex-tremely effective for us. We also felt this EXPO will enlarge in scale and will become even more realistic. Further Impressions The Swiss participants seemed to have made the most out of their experience at the FC EXPO. They also took advantage of their past experience to make this year an even better one. Most impressing was how many brought demonstrations or prototypes of their products which proved, once again, to be extremely useful in attracting new con-tacts. As seen in the photo, people stopped by to study the product and poster, even while the exhibitors were busy in a meeting. Another advantage the participants enjoyed was having parts of their documents translated into Japanese. This works amazingly well to attract domestic visitors who are shy about their English. Many participants ran out of pamphlets and flyers before the end of the exhibition, and IHT Industry High Technology even had to reprint their material due to high demand. Some participants had asked the Business Hub of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tokyo in advance to organ-ize meetings with potential clients including the most important Japanese companies. Others had set up their own meetings with contacts built during the prior year’s event.

On the promotional side, the Japanese/English Bilingual “Swiss Pavilion” Pamphlet a-gain came in very handy. However, many visitors expressed interest in a more detailed overview of the co-exhibition by the Swiss members, which is a point that could be looked into in the future. The Japanese version of the flyer of Hydropole Association, produced by the Science and Technology Office was highly appreciated by the visitors as well as the Hydropole Board. The Swiss Einstein promo bags and Lindt chocolates were, as usual, very popular items.

Support: • The e-mail concerning Japanese business manners which was sent out by the

ST Office before the exhibition was well received by the participants who ap-preciated this kind of support.

• Most of the co-exhibitors participated in the VIP Party organized by the show management.

• A dinner was organized by the ST Office during the exhibition with all the participants of the Swiss Pavilion (picture left).





FC Expo 2008 The Fourth International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell EXPO FC Expo 2008, was held from February 27 to 29 at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center (Big Sight). The world’s largest event specializing in all kinds of products and technologies related to the R&D and manufacturing of fuel cells and hydrogen, was launched in response to the high demand from both the Japanese and international industry for a major international ex-hibition and conference to market the latest in fuel cell technology, hydrogen manufacturing and related technologies. The event featured all kinds of stack materials, fuel supply, storage equipment, peripheral equipment, cogeneration systems, evaluation / inspection / manufacturing equipment, and fuel cells, as well as all types of nanotechnologies and other fuel cell / hydrogen energy related products and technologies. A record 24,617 visitors attended the three-day event. This is still by far the largest fuel cell conference in the world, and the exhibition hall was in most cases very busy and crowded. Visitors included profes-sionals from research institutes, governments, electronics manufacturers, fuel cell manufacturers, construction and plant related

companies, co-generation system manufacturers, energy relat-ed companies such as petroleum, gas or elec-tricity, and automobile manufacturers. Auto-makers Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. were giving test rides of the latest fuel cell car prototypes – and one of the Swiss participants actually got to experience it!

People were busy in business meetings or getting technical advice from specialists from around the world. Nearly 500 exhibitors took part in this event from Japan and abroad. In total, 16 countries and regions participated, with Switzerland, Canada, Finland, Germany and the U.K. presenting their own pavilions. The number of national pavilions was up from three in 2007, indicating the growing international interest and ac-knowledgement of the benefit of exposure at this event. Qualified and well-known professionals were invited to speak about fuel cell technology trends and markets. From Switzerland, Professor Andreas Zuettel of EMPA and Dr. Jennifer Rupp of ETH Zurich were invited to speak at the Academic Forum, which is especially prepared for prestigious universities, national and public institutes. Both speakers attracted an audience of about 50 people, with some having to have to stand to listen in. Professor Zuettel’s presentation was on “Hydrogen an energetic, economic and educational driving force in Switzerland,” while Dr. Rupp explained the “Micro Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for portable electronics: OneBat.” The academic forum offers a valuable opportunity for academia and industry to build new networks and/or to find business partners.

For the Technical Session, Switzerland was well represented by Professor Zuettel, who is also chair-man of the Swiss Hydrogen Association HYDRPOLE, as he gave a full-hour presentation on the outline and the works of the organization. You can see in the picture that again, some of the 30 or so listeners were standing in the aisle to learn about Swiss activity in the hydrogen and fuel cell field.

During the VIP reception, the Swiss participants met with Professor Ota, Yokohama University, who is the chairman of the committee to nominate speakers, and advises FC Expo. This is just one more way Swiss excellence is being promoted at the exhibition. The exhibition was co-organized by the Japan Hydrogen Energy System Society of Japan (HESS) and the Fuel Cell Development Information Center (FCDIC). The following institutions also gave their endorsement:





US Fuel Cell Council, Fuel Cell Europe, Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada, Kompetenz-Netzwerk Brennstoff-zelle und Wasserstoff NRW, European Hydrogen Association, German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and China Industrial Association of Power Sources. This year, the First International Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo was concurrently held, attracting 301 exhibitors and 27,027 renewable energy professionals. Japan Vision and Strategy for Fuel Cells / Hydrogen Public Sector

Strategy on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Energy Utilization: Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. They are expected to become a key energy and environmental technology, because fuel cells are very efficient and do not emit NOx or SOx. While the development of fuel cell vehicles and stationary fuel cell systems is well-advanced, there still remain some hurdles to be ad-dressed, such as durability and performance, in order to make them commercially feasible. For this reason, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is promoting the development of new components and materials that can improve fuel cell performance. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is promoting research and development of fuel cell elements and hy-drogen energy utilization technologies, including the manufacture, transport, and storage of hydrogen fuel, and the demonstration of fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen supply facilities. Furthermore, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) is demonstrating prototype fuel cells for residential use. The switch from a "carbon cycle" centered on fossil fuels to a "hydrogen cycle" free of environmental dam-age has begun. With countries around the world engaged in competition to develop technologies aimed at bringing about a hydrogen society, the Japanese government is pursuing a policy determined to launch the world's first real fuel cell market. The progress of efforts in Japan and abroad to achieve a hydrogen society, the features of Japan's policy and the business opportunities offered by hydrogen society were reported from the policymaking front line at the FC Expo. It is apparent that CO2 emission limitations are seen as a major driving force behind fuel cell technolo-gies under discussion, from the number of times this key benefit was cited in presentations at the various conference tracks. CO2 emissions savings was a quoted vector in company product presentations almost without exception, which is not the case at trade fares in all countries. Progress by the Private Sector

The long-term aim of the policy is the basis of the national strategy to promote business opportunities and positions Japan on the cutting edge of fuel cell technologies. Various R&D results in the field of fuel cells have been achieved (see attached Fuel Cell Digest) as an an-swer to limited oil resources and the necessary reduction of CO2 emissions. Still, certain difficulties remain to be overcome: for example in the automobile sector, the broad-range commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. The following areas need to be further advanced: • Technical level: Improvement in durability. • Infrastructure: Ecologically compatible production, transportation and storage of hydrogen.

Regarding storage, a high pressure storage tank alone is not sufficient. Solutions such as advanced hy-drogen storage technology and optimization of vehicle packaging need to be developed.

• Marketing: Target being to trim costs to 1/100 and increase the travel range to 500 km. Estimations for residential fuel cells predict a start of the penetration phase in 2008. The cost will further decrease to JPY 0.4 million with 1.5 million units projected in 2015. Future trends of mobile ICT include an ubiquitous society and faster terminals with high-speed communication (up to 100 Mbps), diversified con-tents such as reception of digital broadcasts, GPS and translation functions combined with a prolonged us-age time. A small fuel cell will provide the energy needed for future mobile phones. The first prototypes were developed two years ago, and with 90 million mobiles phones alone in Japan, the demand looks very promis-ing.

Please consult JETRO’s report on “Japan's Fuel Cell Industry” for further information.





Appendix: Newspaper Article in Daily Automotive News Interview with Professor Andreas Zuettel of EMPA (Translation of March 3, 2008) Efforts to switch to alternative energy which meet regional requirements have accelerated in many areas including the automobile industry, with an aim to effectively utilize limited resource as well as reduce the burden on environment due to the consumption of fossil fuel. While various options are being suggested, we spoke to the leading expert of hydrogen energy related research in the Swiss Confederation on the latest achievements in the field. Q. What is the reason behind Switzerland’s focus on hydrogen? A. First of all, we have an accumulation of technology such as the development of the world’s first electrolyser to produce hydrogen from water sixty years ago. Another reason is, our country, like Japan, has limited resource and it was necessary to consider an alternative to fossil fuel. The oil crisis in 1973 prompted this. And hydrogen is a more powerful energy than biofuel. Switzerland is a mountainous country and we are at a disadvantage when it comes to harvesting crops. Q. How much progress has there been in hydrogen technology in the past decade? A. Two major achievements are; the improvement of electrolysers and the manufacturing of these equip-ments gaining momentum, and the understanding of means to safely and efficiently store hydrogen. The achievement in storage technology uses solids such as storage alloys and compounds. The mainstream technology for a fuel cell car is to store hydrogen in a 700-atmosphere high-pressure tank. By contrast, solids can be stored at room temperature and ordinary pressure, and thus, are extremely convenient. Storage methods using nano structures of materials such as carbons have been studied with high expectation, but considering the progress in solid storage technology, it no longer seems practical. Q. It has been said to be difficult to install solid metal hydride as a form of solid storage in automobiles be-cause of its low efficiency per weight, but what is the current situation? A. The main storage alloys ten years ago used a lanthanum-nickel compound, of which storage rate per weight was limited to 1.9 percent. EMPA in 2002 identified that a lithium-boron compound can improve the storage rate to 18 percent. There is a possibility to raise storage rate by ten times. If you compare this to a 700-atmosphere high-pressure tank, the tankage per cubic meter would be about 5 times more at 150 kilo-grams. High-pressure tanks require the cost to secure safety, and the new technology has a big advantage in this sense as well. This is a compound discovered right after world war II which has been used for chemical reactions. We al-ready know the molecular structure. EMPA began with the analysis of the crystal structure and realized it can be used to produce hydrogen. Q. Lithium is set to be used in next generation rechargeable batteries. Are there concerns of material short-ages in the future? A. It is true there is a limit for any kind of resource. However, lithium is not a scarce element, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Furthermore, we have confirmed that an alloy of aluminum-boron compound can also realize a storage rate of 15 percent which is similar to that of a lithium system, so we have more than one option. Q. When will this new storage method be put in practical use? A. It is difficult to answer as I am not a businessman but a researcher. We are at a research phase and there are still many tests needed before practical application. However, with the oil price so high and not ex-pected to come down, and the use of hydrogen will become more and more active. I believe that then the solid storage of hydrogen, which is superior in efficiency and safety, will become the favored choice.





Pamphlets And Other Promotion Material Following Information and promotion material has been distributed at the Swiss Pavilion:

IHT

• “IHT: Clean Hydrogen Solutions” — Products & Services Brochure

• “Electrolyzer S-556 System Lurgi for 760 Nm3/hr H2” Flyer

• “28 Electrolyzers S-556 System Lurgi for 760 Nm3/hr H2” Flyer

• “Electrolyzer S-540 System Lurgi for 670 Nm3/hr H2” Flyer

• “7 Electrolyzers S-540 System Lurgi for 670 Nm3/hr H2” Flyer

MES-DEA

• “MES-DEA” — Products & Services Brochure • Company Overview Flyer • “Full Cell Power Generator energen G-DEA 0.5 Proto-

type ” Flyer • “Full Cell Assembly System DEA 0.5” Flyer • “Full Cell Assembly System DEA 1.0” Flyer • “Full Cell Assembly System DEA 1.5” Flyer • “Full Cell Powered Scooter Prototype SR50 FC Proto-

type” Flyer • “Full Cell Powered Bike Prototype FC Albatros Prototype”

Flyer

Hexis

• “Galileo-decentralised energy and heat supply with fuel cells” Flyer

• “Galileo-decentralised energy and heat supply with fuel cells” Flyer [in Japanese]

CEKA

• “CEKA PEM Fuell Cells, Independent Hydrogen Power Systems” Flyer

• “Raus aus dem Teufelskreis” Flyer

HTceramix

• “High Technology Electroceramics” — Products & Ser-vices Brochure

• “HoTbox™” • “HoTbox™ Integration Examples” • “Products” • “SOFC Stack” • “ Stack S-design”

European Fuel Cell Forum

• “Lucerne FUEL CELL FORUM 2008” Flyer • “Lucerne FUEL CELL FORUM 2008” Poster

EMPA

• “Materials for Energy Technologies – Empa Research Programs” Brochure

• “EMPA Materials Science & Technology” Flyer • “EMPA Annual Report 2006”

ETH Zurich

• “ONEBAT Micro-Solid Oxide Fuel Cells” Flyer

Science & Technology Office

• “FC EXPO 2007: Swiss Pavilion” Pamphlet [Bilingual English/Japanese]

• “H2YDROPOLE Wasserstoff Hydrogène Idrogeno Hydro-gen”

• “H2YDROPOLE Wasserstoff Hydrogène Idrogeno Hydro-gen ” [in Japanese]

• “Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Project Map, R&D Programme” -- Swiss Federal Office of Energy

• “Hydrogen Report Switzerland 06” • “Programm Solarchemie/Wasserstoff” [in German] • “Networks for Switzerland” (UVEK/ETEC/ATEC)

Location : Switzerland

• “Switzerland-Your Business Location in Europe” • “Environmental Technologies in Switzerland” [in Japa-

nese] • “Micro and Nanotechnologies in Switzerland” • “Handbook for Investors” • “Headquarters in Switzerland? Your Best Location in

Europe” • “”Greater Zurich Area IN SIGHT” • “Zurich Switzerland’s Business Metroplois” • “Greater Zurich Area” Map • “Greater Zurich Area” DVD • “ZÜRICH” • “Your Business at the Heart of Europe” • “DEWS” Map • “World’s finest place for success in life science” • “Area News”(Basel) • “zug; services” • “zug; doing business” • “Have a seat” (zug) • “zug; reasons why” • “zug; small world – big business” • “bernecapitalarea • ”Berne : as dynamic as your business ideas” • “Nespresso” Brochure • “Lindt Chocolate” Brochure

Other distributed material

• Einstein T-shirts (lottery) • Einstein Promo Bags • Einstein Promo Cubes filled with Ricola Herb Candies • Nespresso Coffee • Lindt Chocolate • Swiss White Wine • Swiss Cheese (Gruyère / Appenzeller) • IHT swiss knife

Other sources of information

• Academic Forum Report • HYDROPLE technical conference handout • Keynote speech report • Feedback from Swiss Pavilion participants





Useful Websites • Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

http://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/english/index.htm

• New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) http://www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html

• National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html

• Hydrogen Energy Systems Society of Japan http://www.hess.jp/

Floor Plan

http://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/english/index.htm

http://www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html

http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html

http://www.hess.jp/

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4th Int’l Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo

FC EXPO 2008

SWISS PAVILION

Feb 27[Wed] - 29 [Fri], 2008 @ Tokyo Big Sight, Japan

Booth No. 5-54, West Hall 2

LIST OF EXHIBITORS Embassy Of Switzerland ····················} ETH Zurich··········································} EMPA··················································} MES-DEA SA ·····································} Ceka Elektrowerkzeuge Ag+Co.Kg ···} Hexis AG·············································} HTceramix SA ····································} IHT Industry High Technology SA ·····} Swiss Business Hub···························}

Embassy of Switzerland Dr. Felix Moesner Swiss Science & Technology Office 5-9-12 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8589 Tel: +81 3 5449 8400 Fax: +81 3 3473 6090 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo

The Science & Technology Office in Tokyo is promoting the excel-lence of Swiss education, science, technology and innovation in Ja-pan. Its wide network among administration, universities, research institutes and the private sector R&D helps to stimulate cooperation projects, technology transfers and researcher exchanges with Japan.

ETH Zurich Dr. Jennifer Rupp and Dr. Anja Bieberle-Hütter ETH Zurich, Nonmetallic Inorganic Materials Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] http://www.ceramics.ethz.ch

The ONEBAT system is a micro-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system fabri-cated by thin film deposition and microfabrication techniques used as power source for portable electronic equipment.

EMPA Prof. Dr. Andreas Züttel EMPA, Hydrogen & Energy Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland Tel: +41 44 823 46 92 Fax: +41 44 823 40 22 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.empa.ch/h2e

Swiss Federal Laboratory for Material Testing and Research EMPA is the Swiss national research center for materials sciences and tech-nology. Top level research is performed on materials and systems for energy conversion and storage in collaboration with academic as well as industrial partners.

MES-DEA SA Mr. Ing. Gianmario Picciotti MES-DEA SA - R&D Fuel Cells Via Laveggio 15, 6855 Stabio, Switzerland Tel. +41 91 641 5311 Fax. +41 91 641 5396 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.mes-dea.ch

The MES-DEA PEM FC System is very simple, rather cheap, highly compact and light, reaching good power density, specific power and net electrical efficiency. The power between 500 W and 3 kW are strongly addressed to light mobile (e-bikes, e-scooters), vehicles in general (as range extender, APU) and portable applications.

Ceka Elektrowerkzeuge Ag+Co.Kg Dr. Marco Santis CEKA Elektrowerkzeuge AG+CO.KG Industriestrasse 2, 9630 Wattwil, Switzerland Tel: +41 71 987 4019 Fax: +41 71 987 40 41 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.ceka.ch

Low Cost PEM Fuel Cell Stack with integrated functionalities. Our Stacks are optimized for low cost production at low numbers. Pro-duction “Just in time”. Integrated functionalities: Active Internal Humidification, Plug&Play Concept.

Hexis AG Mr. Volker Nerlich Hexis AG Hegifeldstrasse 30, 8404 Winterthur, Switzerland Tel: +41 52 262 82 07 Fax +41 52 262 63 33 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hexis.com

Hexis AG develops currently a fuel cell system for the energy sup-ply of European single family homes based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. This system, called Galileo 1000 N, is designed to replace a conventional gas boiler. Hexis has a long lasting and broad experi-ence within the field of SOFC and related systems.

HTceramix SA Mr. Olivier Bucheli HTceramix SA 26 Av. des Sports, 1400 Yverdon-les-bains, Switzerland Tel: +41 24 426 10 83 Fax: +41 24 426 10 82 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.htceramix.ch

HTceramix-SOFCpower mission is to be a leader in the develop-ment, manufacturing and commercialisation of stacks and energy generating units for SOFC-based systems. Offering Swiss quality engineering and Italian pilot manufacturing capability, the company offers thermally integrated stack, the so-called HoTbox™.

IHT Industry High Technology SA Mr. Ernest Burkhalter (CEO) IHT Industry High Technology SA Clos-Donroux 1, 1870 Monthey, Switzerland Tel: +41 24 471 92 57 Fax: +41 24 471 92 64 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.iht.ch

High pressure and atmospheric electrolysers up to 760 Nm3/hour per unit. Complete engineering of turnkey plants for industrial and energy related applications.

Swiss Business Hub Ms. Yumiko Kijima, Deputy Director Swiss Export Promotion E-mail: [email protected]

Mr. Keisuke Hara, Chief Representative Japan Swiss Foreign Investment Agency E-mail: [email protected] http://www.osec.ch

Embassy of Switzerland, 5-9-12 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 160-8589 Tel: +81 3 5449 8400 Fax: +81 3 3473 6090

The Swiss Business Hub Japan guides Swiss and Liechtenstein SMEs along every step from the initial export idea to its realization abroad. It offers also strategic support to international companies setting up base in Switzerland.

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http://www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo



http://www.ceramics.ethz.ch


http://www.empa.ch/h2e


http://www.mes-dea.ch


http://www.ceka.ch


http://www.hexis.com


http://www.htceramix.ch


http://www.iht.ch



http://www.osec.ch

4th Int’l Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo

FC EXPO 2008

スイス･パビリオン

2008年 02月 27日(水)～ 02月 29日(金) 東京ビッグサイト西展示場 2ホール

ブース番号 5-54

出展者リスト

スイス大使館科学技術部·································} チューリッヒ工科大学·····································} スイス連邦材料試験研究所 ·····························} MES-DEA·························································} ツェカ・エレクトロヴェルクツオイゲ···········} へクシス···························································} HTセラミックス··············································} IHTインダストリー・ハイ・テクノロジー····} スイス・ビジネス・ハブ·································}

スイス大使館科学技術部 Dr. Felix Moesner Swiss Science & Technology Office 5-9-12 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8589 Tel: 03 5449 8400 Fax: 03 3473 6090 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo

スイス大使館科学技術部（所在地：東京）はスイスの卓越した教育、科

学、技術および技術革新の日本での普及を促進しています。政府系、大

学、民間の研究開発機関などとの産官学にまたがる大使館の幅広いネッ

トワークは、日本とスイス両国間の協同プロジェクトや技術移転、研究

者の交流の活性化に貢献しています。

チューリッヒ工科大学 Dr. Jennifer Rupp and Dr. Anja Bieberle-Hütter ETH Zurich, Nonmetallic Inorganic Materials Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] http://www.ceramics.ethz.ch

チューリッヒ工科大学の ONEBAT システムは薄膜形成と微細加工の技術を用いた携帯型電子機器向けマイクロ固体酸化物燃料電池（SOFC）です。

スイス連邦材料試験研究所 Prof. Dr. Andreas Züttel EMPA, Hydrogen & Energy Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland Tel: +41 44 823 46 92 Fax: +41 44 823 40 22 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.empa.ch/h2e

スイス連邦材料試験研究所（EMPA）は材料科学・技術を専門とするスイスの国立研究センターです。学界や産業界のパートナーとともに、エネ

ルギーの変換や貯蔵に必要な材料・システムに関する最先端の研究を行

っています。

MES-DEA Mr. Ing. Gianmario Picciotti MES-DEA SA - R&D Fuel Cells Via Laveggio 15, 6855 Stabio, Switzerland Tel. +41 91 641 5311 Fax. +41 91 641 5396 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.mes-dea.ch

MES-DEA の固体高分子燃料電池（PEM FC）システムは大変シンプルで、比較的安価かつ非常に小型軽量ながら、高出力・高比出力・高い正味発

電効率を実現しています。500W－３kWの出力性能は、電動自転車や電動スクーターといった軽量の移動車両の外付け発動機や自動車補助電源

（APU）および携帯機器などに大変適しています。

ツェカ・エレクトロヴェルクツオイゲ Dr. Marco Santis CEKA Elektrowerkzeuge AG+CO.KG Industriestrasse 2, 9630 Wattwil, Switzerland Tel: +41 71 987 4019 Fax: +41 71 987 40 41 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.ceka.ch

ツェカの固体高分子燃料電池（PEM FC）スタックは低コストで総合的な機能を実現します。同社のスタック製品はジャスト・イン・タイム

方式で少量でも低コスト生産できるよう最適化されています。また内

部加湿機能やプラグ・アンド・プレイなどの機能が統合されています。

へクシス Mr. Volker Nerlich Hexis AG Hegifeldstrasse 30, 8404 Winterthur, Switzerland Tel: +41 52 262 82 07 Fax +41 52 262 63 33 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hexis.com

へクシスは固体酸化物燃料電池（SOFC）ベースの燃料電池システムを欧州の戸建て住宅向けに開発しています。この「ガリレオ 1000 N」システムは従来型のガスボイラーを置き換えるものです。同社には

SOFC および関連システムの分野で長年にわたる幅広い経験の蓄積があります。

HTセラミックス Mr. Olivier Bucheli HTceramix SA 26 Av. des Sports, 1400 Yverdon-les-bains, Switzerland Tel: +41 24 426 10 83 Fax: +41 24 426 10 82 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.htceramix.ch

HT セラミックス（HTc）は固体酸化物燃料電池（SOFC）ベースの発電機やスタック製品の開発、生産、商品化の分野で主導的地位を担う

ことを使命としています。スイスの高いエンジニアリング技術とイタ

リアのパイロット生産（試作）技術をあわせ持つ同社は、熱統合され

たスタック製品「ホットボックス（HoTbox™）」を展開しています。

IHTインダストリー・ハイ・テクノロジー Mr. Ernest Burkhalter (CEO) IHT Industry High Technology SA Clos-Donroux 1, 1870 Monthey, Switzerland Tel: +41 24 471 92 57 Fax: +41 24 471 92 64 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.iht.ch

IHTは最高 760Nm3／時の高圧および常圧型の電解装置を提供しています。同社は工業やエネルギー産業関連アプリケーション向けにターン

キー工場に必要な技術をすべてそろえています。

スイス・ビジネス・ハブ対日輸出促進(スイスからの輸入に関するお問い合わせ) 木島由美子、日本代表代理 E-mail: [email protected]

対スイス投資促進 (スイスでの事業開設、拡張に関するお問い合わせ) 原圭介、在日上席代表 E-mail: [email protected]

〒106-8589東京都港区南麻布 5-9-12 スイス大使館 Tel: 03 5449 8400 Fax: 03 3473 6090 http://www.osec.ch

スイス・ビジネス・ハブはスイスとリヒテンシュタインの中小企業の対日輸出と、日本のグローバル企業のスイス拠点設立に際し各種サービスを提供しています。

by


http://www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo



http://www.ceramics.ethz.ch


http://www.empa.ch/h2e


http://www.mes-dea.ch


http://www.ceka.ch


http://www.hexis.com


http://www.htceramix.ch


http://www.iht.ch



http://www.osec.ch

1

March 17, 2008

World’s largest exhibition in Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry was grandly held at Tokyo!!

-Indispensable business venue in the fuel cell and hydrogen industry.

As our concern and attention towards environment is rising, FC EXPO 2008 (4th International Hydrogen &

Fuel Cell Expo) was held from February 27-29, 2008 at Tokyo Big Sight concluding itself with huge success

and further impetus in the world fuel cell and hydrogen industry. It was featuring all kinds of manufacturing

equipment, materials, components, inspection/measurement devices, fuel cell system, nanotechnologies

and other technologies related to fuel cells and hydrogen. FC EXPO showed its outstanding positioning

again as world’s largest and the most significant trade show in the fuel cell industry. This year, PV EXPO

2008 -1st Int’l Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo was held along with FC EXPO with a tremendous

attention from renewable energy professionals.

FC EXPO 2008 came up with another record!

Number of Exhibitors 467 (16 countries) Record scale! Number of Visitors 24,617 (44 countries) Record scale! Number of Seminar Participants 4,116 Record scale!

Post Show Report

Dates: February 27-29, 2008 Venue: Tokyo Big Sight Organised by: Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd. Co-organised by: Hydrogen Energy Systems Society of Japan (HESS) Fuel Cell Development Information Center (FCDIC)

2

FC EXPO is highly recognized for its contribution to the development of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry

by providing an excellent quality of exhibition along with the concurrently-held world’s top class conference.

[Exhibition]

Segmented zones activated more beneficial business meetings between exhibitors and visitors!

FC EXPO 2008 was consisted of 8 specialised zones/pavilions. The huge-scale trade show had segmented

zones for visitors to find the best match for their needs, and have beneficial business meetings.

”Stack Components/Materials Zone” showed catalysts, electrolytes, MEAs, gas diffusion membranes,

separators and other stack materials. Major players gathered in this zone were CELL IMPACT, BASF,

TANAKA KIKINZOKU KOGYO, SGL GROUP and FUMA-TECH. There were also more numbers of small

and medium venture companies joined this year, providing better and cheaper solutions to the fuel cell stack

manufacturers.

”Manufacturing/Processing Technologies Zone” gathered NORITAKE, HIPAS, CHEMSPEED

TECHNOLOGIES, PRIMIX and other industry-leading companies exhibited their cutting-edge technologies

for fuel cell manufacturing. Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network North Rhine Westphalia (Germany) Pavilion

participated at FC EXPO for the first time and had a great response from visitors.

”Fuel Cell Systems/Products Pavilion” attracted visitors who wanted to see the sophisticated fuel cell

applications of TOKYO GAS, MTI MICROFUEL CELLS, DMFCC, FUJI, VANTEC and several national

Pavilions. Finland, Canada, Swiss, and UK Pavilions introduced their latest products, showing their aim to

lead the fuel cell industry.

”Evaluation/Testing/Analysis Zone” showed calibration/detection devices, hydrogen sensors, as well as

the latest equipments for various analysis, evaluation and measurement. Major exhibitors included

<Exhibition Outlines> Exhibition name: FC EXPO 2008- 4th Int’l Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo

Dates: Feb. 27(Wed) - 29(Fri), 2008

Open hours: 10:00- 17:00

Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, Japan

Organised by: Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd.

Co-organised by: Hydrogen Energy Systems Society of Japan (HESS)

Fuel Cell Development Information Center (FCDIC)

Concurrent show: PV EXPO 2008 -1st Int’l Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo

3

YAMATAKE, KIKUSUI, PRAGMA INDUTRIES, CYBERNET SYSTEMS and more.

In ”Hydrogen Production Zone”, IDEMITSU KOSAN, AIR LIQUIDE, GS YUASA POWER SUPPLY,

ASIA PACIFIC FULE CELL TECHNOLOGIES displayed their latest products related to hydrogen production.

”Related Equipment Zone” had exhibitors presenting inverters/converters, nano-technology related

products and other fuel cell related technologies.

“Capacitor/Electricity Storage Technology Zone” was newly launched this year due to the great

requests both from exhibitors and visitors.

[Conference]

The cutting edge R&D result and market/technology trends were presented.

[Other Events]

[Special Features]

Academic Forum and Medium & Small Venture Company Pavilion provided more business chances.

<Keynote session>

<Test driving>

Besides, with cooperation from Japan Hydrogen & Fuel

Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC), fuel cell/hydrogen

vehicles and hydrogen station were exhibited. The fuel

cell and hydrogen vehicle test driving/riding event took

place right next to the exhibition venue, and lots of

visitors experienced the latest fuel cell/hydrogen

vehicles onsite.

More than 4,116 professionals attended the FC

EXPO Technical Conference consisted of 12

technical sessions, the Keynote Session, and the

Special Invitation Session. Among the number of

sessions, the Keynote Session gathered the most

attention as it was titled “Future Prospects and

Strategies Presented by the Country Leaders of Fuel

Cell Policies” and over 963 fuel cell related

professionals attended to learn about each country’s

policies.

4

<Academic Forum> <Medium & Small Venture company Pavilion>

30 researchers of universities/national colleagues from several countries such as Japan, Korea and Swiss

presented their latest research results. These research results considered very important since they were

the fundamental technologies to bring innovation to fuel cells.

Medium & Small Venture Company Pavilion was arranged as a special project by METI (Ministry of Economy,

Trade and Industry) to support venture companies in Japan, this year again, due to the great response from

the previous year’s participants. A total of 41 companies utilized this chance to promote their products to the

mass visitors.

Concurrently held PV EXPO has attracted 301 exhibitors and 27,027 visitors which was a far beyond the

primary expectation in total. There were 51,644 renewable energy professionals visited FC EXPO and PV

EXPO during the 3-day show period.

Overall, FC EXPO 2008 reconfirmed its status as the most effective business venue in the FC and Hydrogen

industry again, and inquires for the next year’s show is pouring in. Early bird discount is available until the

end of April, please contact the Show Management immediately if you are interested in exhibiting.

FC EXPO Show Management Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd

. Attn:Julie（Joo Hyun）An 18F Shinjuku-Nomura Bldg., 1-26-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0570, Japan Tel:+81-3-3349-8576 Fax:+81-3-3349-8535 E-mail: [email protected] URL: www.fcexpo.jp

Industrial Report (c) JETRO Japan Economic Report, April-May 2006

Japan’s Fuel Cell Industry

Japanese Economy Division Summary • Japan’s fuel cell industry has been aggressively pursuing research and development into

phosphoric acid fuel cells and practical fuel cell vehicles, as well as polymer electrolyte fuel cells, which are nearing practical application.

• Few Japanese firms are in the market, so products are procured worldwide. However, Japanese firms are making efforts to add value and cut costs for their own products under development.

• The market is expected to grow as technology advances, and deregulation and government assistance progress.

1. Market Overview

Fuel cells are devices that employ a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and heat, the reverse of water electrolysis. Fuel cells are categorized by the type of electrolyte they employ, such as polymer electrolyte (PEFC), phosphoric acid (PAFC), molten carbonate (MCFC) and solid oxide (SOFC) fuel cells (figs. 1 and 2).

Fig. 1 Fuel Cell Industry Overview

Fuel cell（FC）

Polymerelectrolyte（PEFC）

Phosphoric acid（PAFC）

Molten carbonate（MCFC）

Solid oxide（SOFC）

Natural gas,LPG,

methanol

Polymerelectrolytemembrane

Around 70～90℃

40～60%（30～40%）

Less than few100 kW

Development toapplication stage

Natural gas,LPG,

methanol

Phosphoricacid Around 200℃

40～45%（35～42%）

20 kW to10,000 kW

Naturalgas,coal gas,

LPG,Carbonate 650～700℃

45～60%（40～60%）

Few 100 kWto several

100,000 kW

Natural gas,LPG, methanol

Stabilizedzirconia 700～1000℃

50～60%（40～65%）

One kW toseveral

100,000 kW

Applicabilityphase

Prototype tocommercialization

phase

Development toprototyping phase

Coveredin survey

Items

Raw fuel Electrolyte Operatingtemperature

Generatingefficiency

LHV（HHV）

Generatingscale

Note: Stage of development or commercialization differs by manufacturer/product. Source: Fuji-Keizai Co , Ltd


Fig. 2 Fuel Cell Characteristics

Fuel cells are heralded as the next-generation source of clean, efficiently produced electricity.

Research and development is progressing in Japan, where PAFCs and MCFCs are already in use. PEFCs for vehicles and other mobile applications, as well as for stand-alone systems for residential and commercial use, are now ready for practical application. It is highly likely that all types of basic fuel cells, including SOFCs, will be commercialized in the near future.

PEFCs were first developed by General Electric in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, a one-kilowatt fuel cell was installed in a Gemini spacecraft, kicking off development for space applications. In the U.S., R&D continued on cells for automotive applications and stand-alone power systems from 10 to 200 kilowatts.

In Japan, PEFC development began in 1992 as part of the Sunshine Project (see Glossary) led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). R&D subsequently continued under the successor New Sunshine Project from 1993 (see Glossary) through New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) programs. More specific projects regarding practical uses were implemented under the Millennium Project from 2000, including a program to begin development and testing in order to popularize fuel cells. METI began testing a few hundred stand-alone PEFC prototypes in 2005, and expects to put them into practical use soon. Possible uses for PEFCs include vehicles and small stand-alone power systems. Size reductions have been proven possible without any substantial loss of efficiency. Such systems are nearing practical use.

Development of PAFCs began in 1981 with the decision to produce cells – similar to those developed already in the U.S. – under the Moonlight Project (see Glossary) of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (now the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology). Development continued under the New Sunshine Project until 1997. Work is now focused on commercialization.

The MCFC conducted basic research from 1981 to 1986, and then shifted to research into a 100-kilowatt stack (see Glossary) from 1987 to 1994. System testing was conducted from 1994 to 1999, and from 2000 to 2004 development focused on practical uses. Like PAFCs, research on MCFCs began under the Moonlight Project. The MCFC Research Association guided efforts from 1988. Development by individual companies currently ranges from testing to practical applications.

Polymer electrolyte（PEFC）

Phosphoric acid（PAFC）

Molten carbonate（MCFC）

Solid oxide（SOFC）

Uses

Residential (power, hot water): Application stageCommercial (power, hot water):Testing, application stageMobile (vehicles): Application stagePortable (cellphones, PDAs,notebook PCs, digital cameras):Development, testing stage

Commercial (sewage,garbage treatment plants):Commercialization stage

Commercial (food, sewagetreatment plants): Testing tocommercialization stage

Development stage

Features

Miniaturization possibleLow operating temperature,start/stop fairly easyMore deregulation will lead to widerrange of uses

Gas produced inmanufacturing process canbe used as fuelVery environmentallyfriendlyLow noise

High power efficiencyLarge-scale power generationpossibleHigh-grade exhaust makes airconditioning, water heatingpossibleCombined power generationpossibleBroad range of fuel choicesRunning costs can be minimized

High powerefficiencyLarge-scale powergeneration possible

Issues Additional cost reductions

High installation runningcostsCompetition from otherelectric power sources

Increased durabilityDevelopment of commercialproducts durable enough for highpressure operation

Still in development


2. Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) A. Market Trends

Practical uses for PEFCs are anticipated in many sectors, including commercial/industrial and household distributed power, as well as mobile energy for cars and portable devices. PEFCs are small yet deliver high output, and start/stop easily (see Glossary) due to low operating temperatures.

Current PEFC applications in Japan include residential and portable/vehicle uses. PEFC mobile phones fueled by methanol are near at hand. Restrictions on carrying methanol aboard planes will be lifted in 2007 under United Nations model regulations on the transport of dangerous goods. The market for portable devices is expected to grow as deregulation proceeds.

Volume production of residential generators is also expected to yield cost reductions for devices used in stacks for commercial and industrial PEFCs. This will resolve the problem of high equipment costs and encourage practical applications.

Estimates call for the market to grow over tenfold in five years, from ¥7 billion in 2005 to ¥89.4 billion by 2010 (Fig. 3). So far, most cells have been used in prototype applications only, but these have not been considered practical or competitive since they have been backed by government assistance and support. Manufacturers of PEFC systems, stacks and devices must achieve additional cost reductions to enable wider adoption.

Developers generally expect mass production of stand-alone units for residential, commercial and industrial uses to begin in 2008, which will spark growth of the PEFC market in Japan. B. Applications 1) Residential a) Market overview

Practical applications of household PEFCs fueled by natural gas, LPG or kerosene began in 2005 with residential co-generation stations supplying electric power and hot water. These stations usually generate about one kilowatt, and are started/stopped daily.

The start of the New Energy Foundation (NEF) Large Prototype Stationary Fuel Cell Project (see Glossary) in 2005 kicked off full-scale efforts to promote wider use of fuel cells. The aim is to reduce costs to a quarter or a fifth of current levels by 2007.

60,000

24,000

10,000

1,0006005001300

30,000

60,000

90,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(¥ millions)

0

30,000

60,000

90,000(Units)

Value Units

(FY)

2,240 6,960 5,135 4,745

27,570

48,100

89,400

0

30,000

60,000

90,000

120,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(¥ millions)

(FY

Fig. 3 PEFC Market Growth Trends

Note: Data based on shipment volume. Source: Fuji-Keizai Co., Ltd.

Fig. 4 Residential PEFC Market Growth Trends


About 500 units worth ¥5 billion yen were sold in 2005 (Fig. 4). The project uses 400 units, and the remaining 100 are test models used by manufacturers for system development. Just four companies (Ebara Ballard, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Sanyo Electric, and Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems) accounted for 96% of the market.

The current average manufacturing cost is about ¥10 million per unit. If this could be lowered to ¥2.5 million by around 2008, the four leading firms should each be able to ship 2,500 units annually, although this would still fall short of their targets. If costs were further reduced to ¥1.2 million per unit by the first commercial installations in 2010, shipments could reach 1,000 units a month.

b) Distribution

Domestic manufacturers now developing household PEFC stacks include Ebara Ballard, Fuji

Electric Advanced Technology, Hitachi, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Mitsubishi Electric, Sanyo Electric, and Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems. Manufacturers select devices from around the world, and source supplies both in Japan and abroad.

In 2005, Ebara Ballard acquired exclusive manufacturing, development, sales and maintenance rights for the stacks of Ballard Power Systems of Canada, and also acquired modification and sub-licensing rights. In the future, Japanese fuel-cell system manufacturers are expected to produce their own stacks, rather than simply import.

Some manufacturers of fuel cell systems also provide fuel to their customers. These include Cosmo Oil, Idemitsu Kosan and Nippon Oil as well as urban gas utilities such as Osaka Gas, Toho Gas, and Tokyo Gas. They develop reformers (see Glossary) for the fuel they supply, combine them with stacks and sell the PEFC systems to customers. c) Players and technologies Matsushita Electric Industrial

Of the few systems Matsushita shipped during the 2005 large prototype program, most were provided to Tokyo Gas. Volume was less than half that of Sanyo Electric. Panahome, the group’s home-building operation, has incorporated fuel cell systems into subdivision homes, preparing to turn it into a business. Product development is now underway, with the aim of offering mass-volume pricing by 2008. Ebara Ballard

Ebara Ballard was established in December 1998 by Ebara Corporation (51%) and Ballard Power Systems (49%). The company possesses exclusive domestic manufacturing, sales and service rights to stand-alone power generation systems using Ballard’s PEFCs. Residential PEFCs have reached the commercialization stage, so the two companies agreed to reorganize their cooperative relationship by having Ebara Ballard manufacture PEFC stacks for Japan.

Most systems supplied in 2005 were for Tokyo Gas, but the firm plans to work with Nippon Oil to develop a large household-use fuel cell prototype using a kerosene reformer. It is also developing fuel cells that use natural gas as well as kerosene. 2) Commercial and industrial applications a) Market overview

Fuel cell stackmanufacturers

Fuel cell devicemanufacturers

Fuel cell systemmanufacturers Customers

Procurement throughclose ties with suppliers

Reformers combinedwith stacks and sold as

fuel cell systemsWordwide procurement


Commercial and industrial PEFC R&D has promoted cogeneration systems (see Glossary) that use natural gas, LPG, kerosene or other fuels to produce both electricity and hot water. Current models under development generate around five to 10 kilowatts, and are expected to be installed in small and midsize commercial facilities requiring large amounts of hot water. Thereafter, generating capabilities will be expanded in stages. Sales of micro gas-engines (MGEs; see Glossary) with similar outputs (not including one-kW models) number about 300 to 400 units annually.

PEFCs must offer high performance and low cost due to competition from micro gas-engines. Accordingly, the cost-cutting benefits derived from government incentives and projects to develop large stationary household-use PEFC projects will play a key role in PEFC commercialization.

It is estimated that five units worth ¥350 million were sold in 2005 (figs. 5 and 6). Sales are expected to grow steadily, but will be heavily influenced by how well household PEFCs are accepted. Development is still in the testing and research stage, involving the collection of operational data and efforts to improve durability, stability, load-following capability and other basic performance features. Two cells have been developed so far.

Commercial and industrial PEFC manufacturing costs are currently around ¥3 million per kilowatt, but are expected to fall to ¥1.2 million per kilowatt by 2010 and ¥500,000 per kilowatt by 2015. Manufacturers are intent on introducing commercial models sometime between 2006 and 2008. Despite competition from MGEs, and forecasts that the market will not grow rapidly, it is likely that household PEFC manufacturers aiming for mass production of commercial and industrial cells by 2008 will eventually see good results once cost issues have been resolved. Should this occur, strong market growth is anticipated by around 2015. b) Distribution

The distribution system for commercial and industrial PEFCs is the same as that for

residential PEFCs. Japanese manufacturers developing stacks, such as Ebara Ballard, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, all use imported equipment and collaborate with both domestic and overseas firms. No maker of fuel-cell systems is using foreign stacks, due to problems with maintenance and costs. The system makers are energy companies such as Idemitsu Kosan and Nippon Oil, which develop reformers for use with

Ishikawajima-Harima

HeavyIndustries

40.0%

Other20.0%

MitsubishiHeavy

Industries40.0%

Market Size: Five Units

Fig. 5 Commercial/Industrial PEFC Shipments in 2005

100

70

50

1055

2

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(¥ millions)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120(Units)

Value Units

(FY)

Fig. 6 Commercial/Industrial PEFC Market Growth Trends



Fuel cell systemmanufacturers Customers

Procurement throughclose ties with suppliers

Reformers combinedwith stacks and sold as

fuel cell systemsWordwide procurement


their own fuel products, combine them with stacks, and then sell them to customers as PEFC systems (currently in testing/prototyping stage). c) Players and technologies Nippon Oil

Nippon Oil buys commercial-use PEFC stacks from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and is conducting joint development of commercial PEFC systems. Products include one-kilowatt PEFCs with liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene reformers. R&D is underway on a five-kilowatt naphtha reformer PEFC and 10-kilowatt kerosene reformer PEFC. Development of the five-kilowatt model started in 1999. Field tests were implemented for more than one year under a Japan Petroleum Energy Center research program. Service stations were set up and field tests conducted in Shizuoka Prefecture in 2003, and in Ishikawa Prefecture in 2004, under an NEF research program.

A 10-kilowatt class kerosene reformer PEFC was provided through an NEF project in 2003 and prototype testing at a retail outlet (convenience store) began in February 2004. The system has achieved 32% power generation efficiency, with a future target of 36%. The goal is to install it at business facilities, primarily retailers, restaurants and other small commercial facilities. Idemitsu Kosan

Idemitsu Kosan uses commercial PEFC stacks supplied by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries. A kerosene reformer PEFC system began operating on a trial basis in Hokkaido in 2004, employing a five-kilowatt class Ishikawajima-Harima PEFC (165 cm H x 180 cm W x 70 cm D). Installed at a dormitory for nearly 60 employees, it supplies hot water and about 15% of the dorm’s electrical power. 3) Mobile applications a) Market overview

Research and development of mobile PEFCs has focused on types fueled by pure hydrogen for vehicle applications. Leasing of vehicles using these fuel cells began in Japan in 2002. Models have been developed by carmakers, as well as by fuel-cell-system manufacturers such as Ballard and UTC Fuel Cells, and packaged as automotive fuel cell systems containing a stack, fuel supply and controller.

Most Japanese carmakers are developing fuel-cell vehicles, which generally involves obtaining certification from the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry and participating in the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project. However, some makers prefer to conduct development and testing on their own. Since manufacturing costs are high, investment cannot be recovered through leasing. Moreover, customers are limited to fleet operators who have a fuel-supply infrastructure. As a result, shipments have been primarily for the purpose of PR and gathering data on driving fuel-cell vehicles.

About 20 vehicles worth ¥1.6 billion were sold in 2005 (figs. 7 and 8). Market growth will depend on three factors: 1) technical progress and cost reduction, 2) establishment of hydrogen filling stations and other infrastructure and 3) establishment of systems to handle maintenance and government-required vehicle inspections. Shipments and sales data still have little significance since sales are not being pursued aggressively at this stage.

Honda25.0%

Nissan10.0%

OtherJapanesemakers10.0%

Toyota45.0%

Foreignmakers10.0%

Market Size: 20 units

Fig. 7 Mobile PEFC Shipments in 2005


Car manufacturers were initially forecast to begin limited mass production in conjunction with mass production of stationery PEFCs around 2008. However, slow progress in cost reductions has pushed projections of mass production ahead to 2010 at the earliest. Market size is expected to be 500 vehicles worth ¥15 billion in 2010. b) Distribution

Due to ongoing mergers between Japanese and overseas car manufacturers, the only purely

Japanese automakers remaining are now Toyota and Honda Motor. The same situation is apparent in fuel cell development, which can be broadly divided into three types: 1) in-house manufacturing (stacks and other components), 2) outsourcing from other car makers, and 3) outsourcing from general manufacturers. In-house manufacturers include GM, Honda and Toyota. General manufacturers include Ballard and UTC Fuel Cells. The following chart shows the relationships among Japanese car manufacturers.

Manufacturer Group Stack Daihatsu Toyota Toyota

Hino Motors Toyota Toyota Honda Independent Made in house Isuzu GM GM

Mazda Ford Ballard Mitsubishi Motors Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Nissan Renault-Nissan ―

Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) GM GM Suzuki GM GM Toyota Toyota In-house Yamaha JV with Toyota Toyota

Note: As of February 2006 c) Players and technologies Toyota Motor

As a leading automaker worldwide, Toyota has had an impact on the development of fuel-cell vehicles both in Japan and overseas. Eight modified versions of the large FCHV-BUS2 no-step commuter bus equipped with a hybrid fuel cell system, developed jointly with Hino Motors, were delivered to the 2005 World Expo in Aichi Prefecture (September 2004 to March 2005).

500

150

503030208

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(¥ millions)

0100200300400500600700800

(Units)

Value Units

(FY)

Fig. 8 Mobile PEFC Market Growth Trends



Products procuredworldwide

Car manufacturers Customers

Fuel cell stacks made in-house,supplied by group companies, orsupplied by stack manufacturers


These buses are fueled by pure hydrogen, employ pressurized tanks to store the hydrogen and are equipped with two 90-kilowatt stacks. A backup nickel-hydride battery is also employed. 4) Portable applications a) Market overview

Portable PEFCs are divided by fuel-delivery method into direct, reformer and direct methanol (DMFC; see Glossary). All types are still under research or testing.

Direct types, which employ a hydrogen canister or alloy hydrogen container to deliver the hydrogen, are being developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology, Honda Motor, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone and Sony.

Reformer models, which process methanol or other fuels to generate hydrogen for the power-generation stack, are being developed by Casio Computer.

DMFC types, which are closer to commercialization than other types, use methanol directly, requiring no reformer. The fuel is comparatively easy to handle. Numerous companies are developing such fuel cells, including Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC and Toshiba. Size reductions are possible, so companies are even eyeing applications such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), aiming for commercialization around 2007. Reformer types for use in notebook PCs and digital cameras might be ready for use between 2008 and 2010.

A total of 570 DMFC units worth ¥10 million for sold for field trials in 2005 (figs. 9 and 10). These included 500 units that Hitachi tested in its “Nature Viewer” PDA, which people used as e-guides while touring the company’s hall at the 2005 Aichi world expo.

Use in mobile phones appears promising, with the period from 2007 to 2010 seen as a preparatory stage leading up to mass production. The market is forecast to reach 600,000 units with a value of ¥14.4 billion in 2010. b) Distribution

Portable PEFCs are being developed primarily by companies making and selling their own

application devices (cellphones, PDAs and notebook PCs), such as Casio, Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC,

Hitachi87.7%

Other1.8%

FujitsuLabor-atories1.8%

Toshiba8.8%

Market Size: 570 units

Fig. 9 Portable PEFC Shipments in 2005

0 5701,000 5,500 20,000

110,000

600,000

0200400600800

1,0001,2001,4001,6001,800

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(¥ millions)

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000(Units)

Value Units

(FY)

Fig. 10 Portable PEFC Market Growth Trends

Fuel cell systemmanufacturers

(equipment makers)


Products procuredworldwide

Telecom firms(mobile phones) Customers

Varies according to productcombinations. Mobile phones suppliedthrough telecom firms, but notebookPCs sold directly or through salescompanies.


Sony and Toshiba. The companies do not reveal the sources of their PEFC components, but it is clear that they are procuring from manufacturers worldwide. Methods for selling to customers differ by product application since portable PEFCs are not yet ready for application.

Mobile phones with PEFCs will generally be supplied to telecom firms by manufacturers for sale in the firms’ stores. Because the devices will have usage limitations when first brought to market, and since nationwide maintenance capabilities are not expected to be ready, it is assumed that telecom firms will supply these products by direct sales. Some telecom firms are considering procuring products from overseas to differentiate them from domestic varieties.

Other portable devices from manufacturers will generally be sold through wholesalers and retailers. c) Players and technologies Hitachi

Hitachi conducted field tests in its pavilion at the 2005 Aichi world expo using DMFC-powered PDAs to provide information to visitors. Although this large-scale demonstration took place daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (around 2,200 hours in total), no significant problems occurred. The company believes it now has considerable data for the development of models with even lower outputs for mobile phones. However, no details about applications have been released, and Hitachi has no plans for a major field test before 2007. Toshiba

Toshiba is developing DMFCs for notebook PCs, mobile phones and portable data devices, which they plan to market from from 2007. It has announced a passive DMFC model (see Glossary), along with an existing active type (see Glossary), and is focusing on developing DMFCs for mobile phones and other portable devices. 3. Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells (PAFCs) A. Market Trends

PAFC development picked up speed from the 1980s, resulting in PAFCs being commercialized sooner than other types. Around 200 models, including prototypes, have been made, of which more than 20 have been running for over 40,000 hours. From the early 1990s, dozens of units were sold annually for field tests.

Three companies – Fuji Electric Systems (now Fuji Electric Advanced Technology), Mitsubishi Electric and Toshiba International Fuel Cells (Toshiba IFC) – have been developing the PAFC market in Japan. Natural gas, electric power and other energy companies have participated in prototype testing. Fuji Electric Advanced Technology and Toshiba IFC are the only companies supplying products.

Although commercialization is widespread, the products are highly uncompetitive due to falling prices of electricity from utilities and competition with internal-combustion cogeneration systems (diesel or gas engines, and gas turbines). As a result, only five units worth ¥500 million were sold in 2005 (Fig. 11). Subsidies were used to finance one third to one half of the installations, so there is little chance of a self-sustaining PAFC market forming, even after

555555

7

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(¥ millions)

0

2

4

6

8

10(Units)

Value Units

(FY)

Fig. 11 PAFC Market Growth Trends


commercialization. Many assume the market will remain limited due to difficulties in significantly reducing costs.

However, some demand is expected from companies fueling PAFCs with gas byproducts recovered from various manufacturing processes to comply with certain environmental regulations concerning, for example, CO2 emissions, the use of new energy (RPS Law), procurement of eco-friendly goods and services (Green Purchasing Law), and the Food Recycling Law. B. Applications 1) Commercial and industrial uses a) Market overview

Installations are proceeding with PAFC systems developed for commercial and industrial cogeneration, and fueled with natural gas, LNG, LPG, naphtha and methanol. (Other cogeneration systems with similar capacities include diesel engines, gas engines, gas turbines and MCFC fuel cells.) Advantages of these PAFC systems include very low environmental impact and low noise, but significant demerits include high purchase and operation cost. The government accounts for most of the demand, and none of the manufacturers plan to expand sales efforts beyond this scope. These cells will be positioned as prototypes to be tailored for individual company requirements, aiming at developing the limited demand for refining methane produced at sewage and garbage treatment plants, and for biogas systems.

Fuji Electric Advanced Technology sells a 100-kilowatt model and Toshiba IFC a 200-kilowatt unit. Both types are technologically sophisticated and, despite their high costs, have been put to work in a variety of practical uses. Both companies are introducing two or three units each year. Fuji’s model is smaller and more cost-competitive than Toshiba’s, so more units have been sold (Fig. 12).

Four PAFCs were installed at the 2005 Aichi world expo under a NEDO new energy project (2004 figures). Kawasaki’s Municipal Tama Hospital, opened in February 2006, produces energy using both clean-energy and cogeneration systems, including a 200-kilowatt PAFC. b) Distribution

PAFC system makers handle everything from manufacturing to sales, including device

procurement and the systematized manufacture of stacks. PAFCs are superior to other cogeneration systems in terms of features, but cost more to buy and operate. Manufacturers need to cut costs, manufacture everything from stacks to systems themselves, and handle sales and maintenance.

Fig. 12 PAFC Shipments in 2005

ToshibaFuel CellSystems40.0%

FujiElectric

AdvancedTechnolog

y60.0%

Market Size: Five units



Customers

Everything in-house, fromsales to maintenance

In-house development,products procured

worldwide


c) Players and technologies Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems

Toshiba installed four 200-kilowatt PAFCs at the 2005 Aichi world expo. In recent years, their PAFCs have been employed as the base power source for many systems combining solar power generation, fuel cells (MCFCs and SOFCs) and storage batteries. While the company is not actively pursuing sales, it intends to leverage its accumulated technology and expertise to develop new fuel cell systems. Fuji Electric Advanced Technology

The company has installed 15 100-kilowatt PAFCs since 2000, continuing at an average pace of two or three a year. With power generating efficiency of 40% and overall efficiency of 87%, Fuji’s PAFCs are more efficient than commercial cogeneration systems in the same class. As such, the company seems to have achieved its technological goals in terms of power efficiency.

Their basic model’s manufacturing cost ranges from ¥500,000 to ¥1 million per kilowatt, while maintenance costs – the cost of regular inspections – are around ¥4 million to ¥9 million a year. Separate estimates are provided for overhaul costs, which can vary greatly depending on the circumstances.

Research is underway to lower maintenance costs. A new model introduced in October 2005 extends fuel cell operation and reformer overhaul life by 1.5 times, from 40,000 hours to 60,000 hours (seven years). The model is expected to stimulate new demand. 4. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs) A. Market Trends

MCFCs are electrolyte fuel cells that use carbonate ions to produce a simple electric charge. Operating at comparatively high temperatures of 600º - 700ºC, MCFCs produce high-grade exhaust heat, and can be used for air conditioning, hot water, heating, and large-scale power generation. They can be used together with micro gas turbines for highly efficient combined power generation, and can run on various types of fuel.

MCFC development in Japan began with basic research in 1981, and progressed under a national project to replace thermal power plants with new kinds of systems. However, due to low cost competitiveness and technological hurdles, the government shifted its focus to midsize (few hundred-kilowatt) distributed power supply systems.

Current MCFCs can generate around 250 to 300 kilowatts, putting them in competition with diesel and gas engines, gas turbines and PAFCs.

Six units worth ¥850 million were sold in FY2005 (Fig. 13). Since MCFCs accept digester gas, as well as LNG or natural gas, and because of their high power-generation efficiency, they are being used at plants that need electricity more than heat, as well as at data centers, universities, food plants, sewage-treatment plants and livestock facilities that generate digester gas.

The market is expected to expand to 30 units worth ¥3.5 billion by 2010. The impact of environmental regulations and the Energy Conservation Law, which aims to cut CO2 output, should help to spur growth. Manufacturing costs are being cut, and sales costs are predicted to drop further, so more demand is expected from manufacturers and large commercial

30

2020

1010

6

2

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(¥ million)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35(Units)

Value Units

(FY)

Fig. 13 MCFC Market Growth Trends


facilities such as hotels and universities. B. Applications 1) Commercial and industrial uses a) Market overview

MCFC generation capacity is currently around 250 to 300 kilowatts, but is expected to reach several thousand kilowatts, making them suitable as cogeneration systems for large facilities. In view of possible competition with internal combustion generators – diesel and gas engines and gas turbines – as well as PAFCs, it will be necessary to differentiate target customers who will benefit from MCFC features. Although MCFCs are not noteworthy for overall efficiency, they can offer outstanding power-generation efficiency (47% for the DFC300 from Marubeni Corporation), which is highly valued by customers placing priority on electricity over heat. MCFCs are also superior in terms of running costs. Accordingly, demand is expected to rise among food-related and sewage-treatment plants that generate digester gas.

Currently there are only two Japanese companies in this category, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (pressurized external reforming type) and Marubeni (atmospheric pressure internal reforming type; see Glossary). The MCFCs of these two companies differ in many aspects, including electrolyte materials, operating methods, technical development issues, durability and cost.

Six units worth ¥850 million were sold in FY2005. Ishikawajima-Harima sold two 300-kilowatt MCFC units to NEDO’s Demonstrative Project of Regional Power Grids with Various New Energies and one 10-kilowatt unit to Chugoku Electric Power, which began testing the unit in a CO2 recovery system in October 2005. Marubeni sold three units, one each to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyo Super Ecotown and Kyoto Eco Energy Projects.

Marubeni has been selling atmospheric-pressure cells and expects to see demand grow, regardless of the fuel that customers use. Pressurized (low-pressure plant) MCFCs developed by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Chubu Electric Power and Toyota also underwent testing at the 2005 Aichi World Expo and are approaching practical application. The market will center on 250- to 300-kilowatt, medium-capacity units for the time being. Such units have been installed by a wide range of customers nationwide, and are likely to become more popular. b) Distribution

Fuel-cell system manufacturers develop their own stacks for MCFCs. Marubeni has

exclusive sales rights in Japan for MCFCs made by FCE, an American firm. FCE, which has an extensive track record overseas, has developed links with Marubeni due to its well-established power plant business throughout Asia. Cutting overall costs, from initial to maintenance, is a

Ishikawajima-

HarimaHeavy

Industries50.0%

Marubeni50.0%

Market Size: Six units

Fig. 14 MCFC Sales in 2005



CustomersTie-ups with proven overseasmakers for sales in Japan

In-house development, productsprocured worldwide


Tradingcompanies


serious issue for these firms. Marubeni has reached the product stage, so is now restructuring its manufacturing, sales and maintenance operations. c) Players and technologies Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI)

IHI began its own research and development in 1983 and participated in the second phase (1987 to 1999) of the national Moonlight Project. During the third phase (2000 to 2004), with a grant from NEDO, it was involved in developing compact pressurized power-generation systems and high efficiency modules as part of separate research for the MCFC Research Association. Research and testing was conducted on a 300-kilowatt unit from 2002 to 2004. Testing and research on an MCFC combined with a waste-gasification device was carried out jointly with Chubu Electric Power, as well as on a hybrid MGT system with Toyota, with the results serving as the basis for trial runs of two MCFCs during the 2005 Aichi World Expo. Going forward, development and testing of 300-kilowatt and modular 1,000-kilowatt models is proceeding with the aim of bringing products to market quickly.

Extending product lifespan is a key issue for IHI. The technical challenge of commercializing pressurized MCFCs will be great, since the models operate under high pressure. At present, IHI is also studying various possible materials for use as electrolytes. Marubeni Corporation

Marubeni obtained sales rights for the Asian region, including China, Southeast Asia and Australia (with exclusive rights in Japan) by concluding a contract with FCE of the U.S. in 2001. It is concentrating on developing atmospheric-pressure internal-reforming MCFCs. Domestic commercial products include the F300 (250-kilowatt output, 47% generating efficiency). Numerous units have been installed at facilities such as a Kirin Brewery plant, a sewage treatment facility and factories of Seiko Epson, Japan Petroleum Exploration and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Overseas orders have also been aggressively pursued, resulting in planned installations at three facilities of steelmaker POSCO in South Korea.

The company offers three models: the 250-kilowatt DFC300, the 1,000-kilowatt DFC1000 and the 2,000-kilowatt DFC2000. However, few DFC1000s or 2000s are in operation worldwide and none have been sold in Japan. Marubeni has presented DFC300 sales proposals to sewage treatment facilities, and jointly with First ESCO, an energy services company, and plans to offer proposals to electrical, machinery and food product manufacturers as well.

Marubeni has accelerated efforts to establish manufacturing, sales and maintenance operations in anticipation of growth in Japan’s MCFC market. This has included setting up Fuel Cell Japan in August 2004 to handle MCFC sales, installations and maintenance, as well as using technicians from FCE. On the manufacturing side, the company is working to lower costs, aiming to reduce its current system from ¥600,000 to ¥300,000 per kilowatt. As sales increase, it is estimated that initial costs of stack components can be lowered, in part through the advantage of FCE’s mass-production facility in the U.S.

Marubeni plans to produce MCFC systems for the Japanese market with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, attempting to cut initial costs and boost the price competitiveness of its stacks and systems. 5. Laws and Regulations A. Fuel Cell Enterprises

Deregulation is needed to promote the wider adoption of fuel cells. The Ministerial Liaison Council for Fuel Cell Implementation was founded in 2002 and in March 2005 completed its review of six laws and 28 articles pertaining to fuel cells. The result is expected to include the eventual acceptance of hydrogen fuel being handled in the same manner as pressurized natural gas, of course with necessary safety guarantees. Deregulation is also anticipated in other sectors.


Sector Supervisory Authority Changes Needed to Promote Fuel Cells

Roads Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and

Transport

For undersea tunnels, clarification of scope of traffic restrictions, whether fuel vehicles with permits are allowed passage, and two other provisions.

Trucking Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and

Transport

For fuel cell vehicle permits, clarification of scope, simplification of application procedures, and a system for transferring vehicles with permits to third parties.

High-pressure

gas

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Permission to remove fuel tanks for inspections of imported fuel cell vehicles, and 12 other provisions

Fire Ministry of Internal

Affairs and Communications

More access to underground parking lots for fuel cell vehicles, provision of fire extinguishers by underground lots, and four other provisions.

Building standards

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and

Transport

Zoning restrictions on hydrogen filling stations and facilities manufacturing flammable or liquefied gases matched to those for CNG stations, and one other provision.

Electricity enterprises

law

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Residential fuel cells reclassified as low-output power generators exempt from safety permits and mandatory licensed electricians, and one other provision

B. Policies Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

The Strategic Council for Fuel Cell Applications, which advises the Natural Resources and Energy Agency director general, is calling for fuel cells to account for something less than 1% for all electric power nationwide and 0.1% of all vehicles owned by 2010. Because these systems are an integral part of policies for global-warming and environmental issues, efforts are being implemented in both the public and private sectors. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

This ministry is central to the development of fuel cells in Japan. It allocated ¥142.3 billion in its 2005 budget for science and technology promotion, with fuel cells accounting for ¥35.4 billion, or around 25%. Policies on elemental technology development/testing/prototyping, legal/regulatory liberalization and international standards are among the wide-ranging measures being developed with the Natural Resources and Energy Agency. NEF’s large stationary PEFC demonstration project was one of the major programs in 2005. In addition, support for the development of new technologies was provided through NEDO and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Ministry of Environment

This ministry’s role will expand as fuel cells gain wider adoption. Current activities are limited to promoting increased awareness of fuel cells. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

This ministry has participated in certain trials and prototyping since it oversees roads, public transportation, housing and other infrastructure. Besides implementing a project to promote fuel cell vehicles, it also decided to fund a project to promote the development of hydrogen-fueled fuel-cell cogeneration systems for housing complexes.


Fuel Cell Glossary

Sunshine Project The former MITI Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (now the National Institute

of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) devised this project in 1974, spurred by the first oil crisis in 1973. The program aims to develop and implement new types of energy, including natural energy.

Moonlight Project (Energy-saving Technology Development Project)

This program was founded in 1978 to promote development of advanced, fundamental energy-saving technologies through the promotion of major energy-conservation technologies, subsidies for private-sector technology development, cooperative international research programs, surveys to determine the overall benefits of energy-conservation technologies, and standardization in the energy-conservation field. New Sunshine Project

The former Sunshine, Moonlight and Global Environment Technology programs, which separately promoted new energy, energy conservation and environmental technologies, were merged into this program from 1993 to promote a comprehensive approach to technological development. The program is focused primarily on solar and wind power, fuel cells, coal liquefaction and joint international research of hydrogen systems. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Power System Technological Research Association

This research group was established in 1988 to continue with basic research into MCFC technological development, which had begun under the Moonlight Project in 1981. It comprises electric power companies and equipment manufacturers, led by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Daily Start and Stop (DSS) Operations

This is a load-following method for operating power-generation systems, under which systems are started and stopped daily. In contrast with DSS, continuous operation is a method by which operation continues throughout the year, with stops and starts minimized. Large Stationary Fuel Cell Prototype Program

By installing large systems in many areas to collect data, this program is designed to determine the level of private-sector technology in the emerging market for stand-alone fuel cell systems, and to identify key technical issues that must be addressed. This program has been conducted by the New Energy Foundation (NEF) since 2005. Dispersed Power Systems

Unlike electric power supplied on the interconnected grid of electric utilities, distributed power systems are installed and operated at individual facilities as decentralized sources of electrical power. The systems include not only internal-combustion generators, such as diesel/gas engines and gas turbines, but also fuel cells, solar and wind power, and other types of new energy. In this report, “micro” generally means less than 10 kilowatts, “small” from 10 to 500 kilowatts, “midsize” from 500 to 1,000 kilowatts and “large” from 1,000 kilowatts upward. Cogeneration Systems

These are distributed power sources that use (or supply) electricity and heat. They have attracted attention for their efficient use of energy, and have been adopted primarily by industrial and commercial operations where environmental measures are considered especially important. In recent years they have centered on one-kilowatt micro gas-engines and residential fuel cells, and ordinary households installations continue to increase.


Micro Gas-Engines This generally refers to gas engines producing less than 10 kilowatts. Developed by natural

gas companies, these strategic products are designed for small private-sector facilities. Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and Tokyo Gas have been among the major gas utilities popularizing these engines nationwide. Stack

This is an assembly consisting of single cells and separator plates. It refers to an integrated device in which individual cells are normally connected to separator plates to separate fuel and air and maintain a gas flow channel.

Reformer

This device enables hydrogen to be manufactured from natural gas, kerosene or other fuel for supply to a fuel cell. Active, Passive and Reformer Types

Fuel cells that use methanol are divided into three types by the fuel supply method. In active types, highly concentrated methanol fuel is injected into the stack with pumps, then diluted before power generation. In passive types, the fuel is injected directly without changing the concentration. While active and passive types have output limitations, they can be built in compact designs because neither needs the amount of equipment required by the third type, the reformer (see “Reformer” above). Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)

This is a system for generating power by directly supplying a methanol solution to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The active and passive types described above fall into this category. They show great promise as power sources for mobile phones, PDAs, notebook PCs and other portable devices. Atmospheric-Pressure Internal-Reforming Type

MCFCs can be divided into two types: the pressurized external-reforming type MCFC being developed by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries and the atmospheric-pressure internal-reforming type MCFC sold by Marubeni. Differences include the presence/absence of a reforming process and high pressure inside the stack. Disparities exist in equipment performance (power generating efficiency, durability, etc.). Pressurized external-reforming types are currently in the research and development phase. Note: This report was compiled by JETRO based on data from Fuji-Keizai Co., Ltd.

Electrolytemembrane

Electrodes (anode, cathode)

Separator plate

Single cell

Single cell + separator

Stack





Appendix Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Digest of Japan

March 2008

Charging Bikes With Brakes (March 07, 2008)

Sanyo Electric Co. will sell electric bicycles whose batteries are charged whenever the brakes are applied. A light squeeze of the left brake lever on the handle turns a motor on the front wheel into a power generator that charges the lithium-ion battery. The system has extended the distance the bicycle can travel on one charge to 50 kilometers from 35km for existing models. This ability means the bicycle does not need to be charged as often. The bike can be put in a mode in which electric assistance is not used on a level ground and the brakes are automatically applied and the battery is charged when going down a slope. The lithium-ion battery is 760 grams lighter than the conventional nickel-hydrogen batteries used for such bikes. Visual Sensor For Hydrogen Gas Leak

(March 11, 2008) Autoparts maker Atsumitec Co. and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have jointly developed a hydrogen sensor that provides a visual indication when there is a hydrogen gas leak. The sen-sor is normally silver in color and opaque, but it turns transparent in around 3 seconds in the presence of hydrogen gas in amounts as small as 5,000 parts per million. Other hydrogen sensors are more sensitive, but this device does not require electricity and it is easy to read with the naked eye. Moreover, the sensor can be made in various sizes, from small units that fit in the hand to ones that are a few meters in size. New Liquefied-Hydrogen Plant

(March 12, 2008) Iwatani International Corp. will construct a second plant for the manufacture of liquefied hydrogen, locating it far to the east of the existing facility so that there is less risk of interruption in supplies should an earthquake happen to knock one out. The firm is responsible for the majority of liquefied hydrogen made in Japan and supplies it to manufacturers of semiconductors and high-purity glass. By building the new plant and dispersing production, Iwa-tani seeks to avoid a repeat of 2007, when an earthquake damaged the piston ring factory of Riken Corp. -- maker of half of all piston rings used by automakers in Japan. Cogeneration System Ready For Consumers

(March 14, 2008) Osaka Gas Co. announced it could begin selling fuel cell-based cogeneration systems to consumers as early as fiscal 2009. Known as solid polymer fuel cells, the systems generate electricity using oxygen and hydrogen ex-tracted from city gas. Exhaust heat is used to heat water. The company has analyzed deterioration of the equip-ment through chemical reactions and demonstrated through experiments that nonstop use for five years is feasible. It will now further accelerate research and development, such as improving power generation efficiency. Producing Hydrogen From Biomass

(March 14, 2008) Sharp Corp. and the government-affiliated Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth have devel-oped an efficient way to produce hydrogen from agricultural crops, wood and other biomass. The procedure uses genetically modified E. coli bacteria to ferment sugars derived from biomass, yielding hydrogen. In one set of ex-periments, 200 grams of bacteria placed in a 1-liter container containing sugars yielded 20 liters of hydrogen in one hour. In theory, this setup could produce approximately 100 liters of hydrogen for every 180 grams of sugar. The next step is to modify the bacteria to boost output and devise a means of continuous production. Doubling Efficiency In Gleaning Hydrogen From Ethanol

(March 14, 2008) Toyota Central R&D Labs has developed a way to glean hydrogen from ethanol at twice the efficiency of conven-tional methods. The new technology produces hydrogen by passing a mixture of water and ethanol through a





quartz tube that contains a catalyst with metal rhodium, and applying heat using microwaves. The tube also con-tains silicon carbide, which readily absorbs microwaves. The tube is placed in a desktop-size aluminum box, the interior of which is then irradiated with microwaves. The opening through which the microwaves enter can be freely adjusted to ensure that they are internally reflected and do not escape. Platinum In Fuel Cell Catalyst Halved

(March 27, 2008) Hitachi Maxell Ltd. has developed a catalyst material for polymer electrolyte fuel cells that uses only around 50% the normal amount of platinum. The new material is made from fine powders of platinum, gold, and an alloy com-prising a 4-1 ratio of platinum and gold. These powders are mixed together with the grains of carbon used for the negative electrode and reacted with citric acid to form granules of carbon coated with nanograins of the catalyst material. These coated carbon granules are then formed into the shape of the electrode. A PEFC using this new catalyst material operates with around 45% less catalyst material than a typical PEFC using an all-platinum catalyst. SOFC, PEFC Combined System

(March 28, 2008) A team comprising of researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo Gas Co. and Nippon Oil Corp. will begin trials next year that will pair up solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) in order to boost their overall power efficiency. The team will first generate power using SOFCs. Hydrogen not con-sumed in electricity production will be stored in a tank and fed to PEFCs for generating power only when there is higher electricity demand. Waste heat from the first SOFC is also used to produce hydrogen from the original fuel. By combining the two types of fuel cells and reducing waste of hydrogen and heat, the team hopes to boost the power generation efficiency to around 60%.

February 2008

Tiny Hydrogen Tank Battery For Portable Devices (February 17, 2008)

A tiny new storage tank developed by Japan Steel Works Ltd. brings hydrogen into the ring as a contender to re-place batteries for portable electronic devices like phones and notebook computers. The new matchbox-sized hy-drogen tank measures 4 x 6cm and is made from aluminum. Japan Steel Works with Tohoku University developed a hydrogenated aluminum compound that releases hydrogen gas when heated. Powdered and packed inside the tank, the compound can provide 43% more hydrogen gas than a comparably sized chunk of lanthanum nickel alloy, the best-known hydrogen-storage alloy. Once all the hydrogen has escaped what is left inside the tank is aluminum. World’s First Grad School For Hydrogen Engineering

(February 22, 2008) Kyushu University will establish what it says will be the world's first graduate school specializing in hydrogen en-ergy technologies. Lectures will cover such topics as hydrogen energy and developing the fuel cells needed to convert hydrogen into heat or electricity. About 10 students are expected to enter the program. The new graduate school will conduct hydrogen-related research in a broad range of areas, from basic research to fields tests using fuel cell vehicles. Reducing Cost Of Fuel cell Cars

(February 25, 2008) A research group from the University of Hyogo has developed a way to fabricate separators for fuel cells at a frac-tion of the usual cost. This development promises to make fuel cell cars much more affordable, removing what is considered a major roadblock to their widespread acceptance by drivers. In the new fabrication process, the sepa-rator is made by placing a sheet of stainless steel in a vacuum chamber, adding acetylene and other gases and baking to yield a thin layer of carbon. A 10cm-square separators made this way would cost less than 200 yen apiece in mass production. That would reduce the cost of the fuel cell unit to around 1 million yen for a car. Storage Alloy Allows Easier Transport Of Hydrogen

(February 26, 2008) Fuel development venture Bio Coke Lab. Co. has developed a mass production process for hydrogenated magne-sium. The magnesium is finely powdered and placed inside a furnace together with hydrogen gas at high tempera-ture and pressure. The resulting compound yields as much as 1.9 liters of hydrogen gas per gram when later heated above 75 C and reacted with water. Volume for volume, this is 10 times as much hydrogen gas as can be





supplied from a gas cylinder. Meanwhile, Taiheiyo Cement Corp. has developed a way to generate hydrogen in a weight ratio of 5.5% from a reaction between a magnesium compound and a lithium compound. Large Scale Fuel cell Experiment

(February 26, 2008) The Fukuoka prefectural government will start an experiment using fuel cells at 150 households in two housing complexes, which it claims will be the world's first example of setting up household fuel cell systems on such a scale, with 100 units in a single concentrated area. The experiment is aimed at proving the practicality of using en-vironmentally-friendly household fuel cells for supplying electric power and heat, the prefecture said, noting that the experiment will be conducted jointly along with Nippon Oil Corp. and Saibu Gas Energy Co. The prefecture will col-lect data showing efficiency levels and the costs involved in using fuel cells over a span of three years. Swiss Pavilion At World's Largest Fuel cell Expo

(February 27-29, 2008) The excellence of Swiss fuel cell & hydrogen technology was well represented at FC Expo 2008, the world's largest exhibition in this field. The three-day exhibition, held for the fourth time from 27-29 February 2008, attracted 24’617 visitors and offered a great opportunity for the participating Swiss companies and research institutions to show their latest technology -- from hydrogen production and new fuel cell designs to integrated systems for the energy supply of single homes -- to interested parties and media, including Swiss TV and Financial Times. The Swiss Pavilion was brought into being by the Science & Technology Office of the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo and has been kindly supported by Presence Switzerland, Swiss Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology OPET, Innovation Promotion Agency CTI, Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE and OSEC. The fifth FC Expo will take place from 25-27 February 2009. Hydrogen, Gasoline Mixture Running Regular Car

(February 27, 2008) A research group led by hydrogen production and storage company Hrein Energy Inc. has succeeded in running a standard automobile on a mixture of hydrogen and gasoline. The group powered a typical 1.2-liter automobile on a mixture of 3-5% hydrogen with regular gasoline. Tests confirmed that the mixture had 30% better fuel efficiency than gasoline alone and also reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 30%. The method extracts gaseous hydrogen from organic hydride. Because organic hydride is a liquid and can thus be transported and stored like gasoline, the researchers expect that this approach could catch on faster than fuel cell vehicles. Fuel cells Come Standard In New Houses

(February 29, 2008) Sekisui House Ltd. will sell houses that come standard with fuel cells, marking the first time that homes so equipped are offered in Japan. These fuel cells will extract hydrogen from natural gas and react it with oxygen to simultaneously produce both electricity and heat. In addition to boosting the efficiency of heating the home and hot water, they will generate 20% less carbon dioxide than if the electricity came from a fossil fuel power plant. In addi-tion, the new homes will have insulation 20% more airtight than in typical homes, as well as such energy-conserving devices as LED lights and low-power dishwashers. The fuel cells will be leased from a gas company.

January 2008

Producing Hydrogen From Bread Scraps (January 24, 2008)

Sapporo Breweries Ltd. is set to begin field-testing a technology that produces hydrogen from bread scraps and uses it for fuel. In the tests, 1kg of bread scraps will be used to produce around 200 liters of hydrogen for use in a fuel cell. The project is being subsidized by the Environment Ministry. After it is confirmed that the system can stably produce hydrogen over the long term, a fuel cell will be installed at the plant next fiscal year to generate a portion of the electricity and heat the plant. The refuse left over after extracting the hydrogen will be fermented to produce methane gas.





December 2007

Consumer Fuel Cells Close To Mass Production (December 03, 2007)

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ebara Corp. and Toshiba are preparing for mass production of residential-use fuel cells. Fuel cells are considered a highly efficient next-generation power source with low carbon dioxide emis-sions. The latest versions are nearing a life span of 40,000 hours which is considered a threshold for fuel cells to gain wide acceptance. The Japanese government, which sees fuel cells as key to reducing household emissions, is targeting a market of 5 million units in 2020 and 15 million units in 2030. Aluminum Separator For Fuel Cells

(December 12, 2007) Dai Nippon Printing Co., in cooperation with Kansai Paint Co., has developed a technology for producing aluminum separators for fuel cells. The separator is the component that sends hydrogen to the fuel cell. Dai Nippon's device consists of aluminum on which a resin film has been electrodeposited. The resin increases the separator's corro-sion resistance to the same level as resin-coated stainless steel or gold-plated separators, overcoming aluminum's major weakness. Production costs are expected to be half those of the stainless steel versions. Lithium-Ion Batteries For Cars Charged In 5 Minutes

(December 12, 2007) Toshiba Corp. plans to enter the market for batteries used to power hybrid and electric vehicles. The company has developed lithium-ion batteries that can be charged in five minutes, one-sixth the time it takes for existing models. The new batteries are also safer and can be recharged 5,000 times over a 10-year period. Compared with nickel-hydrogen batteries used in Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrids, Toshiba's product is roughly one-third the weight and size while carrying the same capacity.

November 2007

New Fuel Cell Venture (November 06, 2007)

Meidensha Corp. and fuel cell development partner Siemens AG are preparing to launch a fuel cell business in Ja-pan for large commercial applications like factories, office buildings, hotels and hospitals. The two firms have been testing small-scale versions of a solid-oxide fuel cell. Currently, a large scale version is ready for the market. It runs on natural gas and can generate power with an energy efficiency of 44-50%. The companies will set up a joint ven-ture this year in Japan to handle sales and management. Prolonged Service Life Of Solid-Polymer Fuel Cells

(November 08, 2007) Hitachi Maxell Ltd. has developed a proprietary cathode material that helps significantly prolong the service life of solid-polymer fuel cells by helping prevent the deterioration of the electrolyte material. The firm developed a cath-ode material that uses an organic compound as an additive. The oxygen from this organic compound interacts with the dissolved platinum and keeps it inside the electrode, preventing the migration to the electrolyte that degrades fuel cell performance. In tests, fuel cells with the new cathode retained 90% of their original power output after 5,000 on-off cycles, whereas the performance of conventional fuel cells fell more than 50%. Mass-Production Of Mesoporous Silica

(November 14, 2007) Taiyo Kagaku Co. has developed a way to mass-produce mesoporous silica with an orderly array of pores in di-ameters ranging anywhere from 1.5 to 7 nanometers, adjustable in units of 0.1nm. Mesoporous silica with its hon-eycomb structure has a variety of applications because its huge surface area. It can boost the efficiency of platinum used as a catalyst for applications like fuel cell electrodes and petroleum refining. Packed with chlorophyll, the ma-terial can mimic photosynthesis. And combined with proteins and enzymes, this might open a door on electronic materials that make use of protein reactions.





New Fuel Cell Car To Lease (November 15, 2007)

Honda Motor Co. will begin leasing its new FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell-powered car to a limited number of U.S. drivers this summer. The company plans to offer a three-year lease with a $600 monthly payment. Honda also is developing a home fueling station that uses a home's existing natural gas supply to produce hydrogen. Home-Use Fuel Cells Venture

(November 16, 2007) Nippon Oil Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. are studying a plan to set up a joint venture to make and market home-use fuel cells. Nippon Oil wants to rely on Sanyo's manufacturing technology, while the electronics maker is hoping to reduce its research and development costs by working with the major oil producer. The two will probably merge their home-use fuel-cell operations. Fuel-Cell Hybrid Car Runs 480 Km Per Tank

(November 16, 2007) Toyota Motor Corp.’s fuel-cell-electric motor hybrid vehicle successfully completed a 3,680-km run from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia. Over the course of its seven-day trek, the vehicle got more than 480 km per tank of liquid hydrogen. The experiment confirmed substantial progress in reliability and durability, cold-weather operation and extended range capability of Toyota's hybrid fuel-cell system. Consumer Fuel Cells In Mass-Production

(November 27, 2007) Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ebara Corp. and Toshiba Corp. are planning to begin mass production of resi-dential-use fuel cells within the next several years. Such fuel cells are considered a highly efficient next-generation power source with low carbon dioxide emissions. A life span of 40,000 hours -- roughly 10 years on operating 10 hours a day -- is considered a threshold for fuel cells to gain wide acceptance and the latest versions are nearing this mark. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which sees fuel cells as key to reducing household emis-sions, is targeting a market of 5 million units in fiscal 2020 and 15 million units in fiscal 2030. Platinum-Free Fuel Cell Catalyst

(November 29, 2007) Researchers from Asahi Kasei Corp., Kyushu University and the Noguchi Institute have developed a new fuel cell catalyst that does not use platinum. The catalyst is a type of substance called a dithiooxamide-based metal com-plex. Centered around copper, which is used in oxidizing catalysts for alcohol, it breaks down ethanol and causes it to react with oxygen, producing electricity. Because the new catalyst does not use platinum, the price of which has been soaring lately, it holds the possibility of significantly reducing the cost of fuel cells. Fixed-Type Fuel Cells Joint Venture

(November 29, 2007) Nippon Oil Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. plan to set up a joint venture to produce fixed fuel cells for households. The new company will be 81% owned by Nippon Oil and 19% owned by Sanyo. It will be capitalized at Y100 million. Fuel cells, which can serve as miniature power stations in homes, generate electricity and heat by burning fuel. They can be more efficient than sending electricity over long distances through power lines.

October 2007

Leasing Of Dual Hydrogen-Gas Vehicle (October 02, 2007)

Mazda Motor Corp. will begin leasing an advanced hydrogen-gasoline dual-fuel powered vehicle in Japan starting next year. The vehicle is designed so that drivers won't have to worry about finding hydrogen stations, as the car's dual-fuel supply will give drivers the option of running on gasoline. The latest model is driven by an electric motor that is powered by a generator and an engine that can work on either hydrogen or gasoline moves the generator. Energy efficiency is higher with an electric motor, which doesn't lose energy through mechanical moves in the transmission as with a regular engine. Efficient Hydrogen Reformer For Fuel Cells

(October 04, 2007) T.Rad Co. has developed a hydrogen reformer for home-use fuel cells that is both inexpensive and highly efficient. The new reformer is designed with an internal heat source, but can extract hydrogen with 92% efficiency - a par





with external-heat reformers. It uses an inexpensive nickel catalyst and is designed as a single unit that integrates the reaction chamber needed to convert the byproduct carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. As a result, the re-former is not only around a third of the cost of an external-heat reformer, but also less expensive than conventional internal-heat reformers. Silicon Gel-Bodied Fuel Cell Car

(October 09, 2007) Honda Motor Co. plans to exhibit a fuel cell vehicle with a soft outer body at the Tokyo Motor Show this month. The car’s body is covered with a silicone-based gel layer supple enough to yield to the push of a finger. The company employed this soft layer to lessen the impact of a collision. Instead of a steering wheel, a joystick is used. The vehi-cle is 2.8 meters long, and roomy enough for four people thanks to the use of a compact fuel cell. New Technology Produces Combustible Gases From Glycerin

(October 11, 2007) The University of Shiga Prefecture has developed a technology for turning glycerin into a useable fuel. Charcoal infused with liquid glycerin is placed in a container filled with nitrogen and then heated to 800 C in an electric fur-nace. As a result, the glycerin undergoes thermal decomposition, producing combustible gases such as hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide, with one-third the heating value of natural gas burned in generators. The extracted gases can be used without modification to power generators, or the hydrogen alone can be used for fuel cells or turned into synthetic diesel. New Technique Removes Resist From Chip Wafers

(October 16, 2007) Kurita Water Industries Ltd. has developed a technology for stripping the resist from semiconductor wafers that combines the electrolyzed sulfuric acid method with a recycling step that helps reduce costs and chemical waste liquid. Resist material must be stripped away using sulfuric acid, but in the new method, some of the sulfuric acid is electrolyzed to generate persulfuric acid. This provides the same chemical activation as the commonly used hydro-gen peroxide but without the drawbacks. New Fuel Cell Car

(October 24, 2007) Honda Motor Co. will introduce the final, commercial version of its FCX fuel cell-powered car at the Los Angeles auto show next month. As for new gasoline-electric hybrid models, Honda is developing a sports car and a low-priced compact car to be launched around 2009. The company is also set to increase production of its fuel-efficient small cars in Asia and North America to keep up with growing demand amid high gasoline prices. Marketing Of Electric Cars

(October 24, 2007) Nissan Motor Co. will begin mass marketing their electric-powered vehicles around 2012. Electric vehicles powered by rechargeable batteries are said to be better for urban transportation than fuel cell cars or gasoline-electric hy-brids. As for the so-called $3,000 car Nissan and Renault are considering together developing to better compete in India and other growing markets. New Type Blast Furnace

(October 29, 2007) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to launch jointly with Nippon Steel Corp., JFE Steel Corp. and others a project to develop a new type of blast furnace that emits roughly 30% less carbon dioxide than existing ones. The ministry plans to spend a total of 25 billion yen starting in 2008 to commercialize the technology in 10 years. The new furnace would run on hydrogen, instead of coke, to achieve the significant emission cut.

September 2007

Platinum Free Fuel Cell Technology (September 15, 2007)

Daihatsu Motor Co. has together with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology devel-oped the world's first technology that allows automotive fuel cells to employ cobalt and nickel as the electrode cata-lyst instead of costly platinum. The company is able to use cobalt and other metals with poor corrosion resistance





instead of corrosion resistant platinum, because its fuel cell technology has an alkaline electrolyte membrane in place of the common, highly acidic electrolyte membrane. Portable Fuel Cell

(September 26, 2007) Hitachi Ltd. has developed a portable fuel cell for power generation to be used at places such as construction sites and camp grounds. The portable fuel cell, when filled with 800ml of methanol, can supply 100 watts of electricity for three hours. Methanol is cheaper than gasoline and generates less carbon dioxide. The cell is 24cm long, 43.5cm wide and 20cm high, and the final product is targeted to weigh 5kg. Fuel Cell Electrode With Thin Platinum Plating

(September 26, 2007) Nakajimakinzoku Co. has developed a fuel cell electrode that uses less than 1% as much platinum as conventional electrodes. A new method adjusts the combination of current strength and temperature during plating in 10 incre-ments, enabling the creation of metal particles as small as 2 nanometers in diameter. These particles of different sizes and shapes are then used to form a thin platinum plating layer with no gaps, preventing contact between the inside metal and the strongly acidic electrolytes. Fuel Cell Car Capable Of Long Distance

(September 28, 2007) Toyota Motor Corp. has developed a new hydrogen powered fuel-cell which now successfully completed a long-distance road test whilst being 25% more fuel efficient than earlier versions. The vehicle is expected to travel 880 kilometers on a full tank of hydrogen, the currently longest-distance journey for fuel-cell cars. The new model’s fuel efficiency is due to improvements in the performance of the fuel cell. Further, the fuel tank capacity has also been increased. Fuel Cell Powered Electronics

(September 29, 2007) Major consumer electronics manufacturers in Japan, the U.S. and South Korea plan to come together to draw up standards for fuel cells for use in portable information technology devices. Companies such as Toshiba Corp., Hi-tachi Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Sony Corp. and NEC Corp. are expected to team up with firms from abroad. One goal is to cut development and production costs by having rules which define the composition of ma-terials and safety standards. Several companies have planned to launch such devices as early as 2008, as fuel cells are expected to rapidly replace lithium ion batteries.

August 2007

Ministry To Use Hydrogen Vehicle (August 01, 2007)

Mazda Motor Corp. will deliver its eighth rotary hydrogen vehicle to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which plans to use it as an official vehicle. The vehicle, which can run on either high-pressure hydrogen gas or gasoline, does not emit carbon dioxide when running on hydrogen. Earlier, Mazda became the first in the world to lease vehicles equipped with hydrogen-powered rotary engines. New Neutron-Shielding Concrete

(August 06, 2007) Civil engineering firm Hazama Corp. has jointly developed with the High Energy Accelerator Research Organiza-tion a kind of concrete with 70% higher neutron-shielding capabilities than the previously available type. The group developed an aggregate containing hydrogen, which slows the penetration speed of neutrons, and an aggregate containing boron, which absorbs neutrons. The two were mixed with cement to make the new type of concrete that both absorbs and slows neutrons. It is to be used by healthcare institutions and operators of nuclear power plants. New Antioxidant Yeast

(August 14, 2007) Kirin Holdings Co. and the Keio University Institute of Advanced Biosciences have discovered a strain of brewer's yeast that processes large amounts of sulfurous acid, an antioxidant, without synthesizing hydrogen sulfide, which normally produces an unpleasant smell. Studies revealed that brewer's yeast strains synthesize large amounts of hydrogen sulfide when processing a tiny number of metabolites of the amino acid asparagine. Using this informa-





tion, the research group selected yeast with large amounts of asparagine metabolites. The result was a brewer's yeast that synthesizes around 150% more sulfurous acid without yielding any hydrogen sulfide. Kirin will use this yeast to brew its beers. New Hydrogen Storage Cylinder

(August 31, 2007) Samtech Co., a maker of forged autoparts, has developed a hydrogen storage cylinder for fuel cell cars that will let them travel longer distances without having to refuel. The storage container can hold 1.5kg of hydrogen in a 40.8-liter cylinder. A car equipped with four of these cylinders could travel 600km on a full load. The device is a high-pressure aluminum cylinder integrated with an alloy capable of absorbing and releasing hydrogen. The cylinder is pressurized to 350 atmospheres, but use of the alloy allows more hydrogen to be filled in the tank than is possible from high pressure alone. Hydrogen-Gasoline Powered Vehicle

(August 31, 2007) Hrein Energy Inc. has successfully field-tested an automobile powered by a mixture of hydrogen and gasoline. Hy-drogen obtained through electrolysis of water can be transformed into an organic hydride when it is mixed with toluene and naphthalene. Organic hydrides can store hydrogen for a long time in a liquid state, and the hydrogen can be extracted by changing the temperature and pressure. The company, in cooperation with Hokkaido Univer-sity and Futaba Industrial Co., developed a small cylindrical reactor for recovering hydrogen from the organic hy-dride and installed it on a vehicle powered by a small 50cc engine. Cooperation With Australia Toward New Energy Technology

(August 31, 2007) The Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization will col-laborate to develop a way of using solar heat to produce methanol from coal and natural gas. They aim to establish fundamental technologies for practical applications in arid desert regions. Storing heat by warming molten salts using the sun's energy, the heat can then be used to create steam for producing electricity. The electricity will be used to drive the electrolysis of water to generate hydrogen and oxygen, when reacted with coal and natural gas synthesizes dimethyl ether. Dimethyl ether as a fuel is believed to yield around 15% more energy than directly burning coal.

July 2007

New Fuel Cell Testing (July 10, 2007)

Firms, including Nippon Oil Corp. and Osaka Gas Co., will be involved in field tests of a new type of residential fuel cell that has 25% higher generation efficiency than current offerings. Solid-oxide fuel cells, which use ceramic ma-terials in their power-generating parts, will be tested over four years. The New Energy Foundation. Affiliated to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, will borrow devices from manufacturers, with gas and other companies responsible for setting up and conducting tests.

June 2007

Increased Lithium Ion Battery Production (June 04, 2007)

Sanyo Electric Co. will bolster its output of lithium ion batteries for use in personal computers and other electronic devices, hoping to increase its market share. In addition, the company will introduce a new type of nickel- hydrogen battery for use in hybrid cars which can provide twice the length of battery life compared with its existing nickel-hydrogen batteries for such cars. Plans To Lower Fuel cell Production Cost

(June 05, 2007) Firms have teamed up to develop technology for peripheral equipment and worked to lower parts costs, in an at-tempt to cut production costs of household fuel cells by 1 million yen per unit. Currently, assuming a production rate





of 10,000 units a year, a unit is estimated to cost 2 million yen. Plans are to lower the cost by standardizing parts, a project to be subsidized by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. Household Appliances To Cut Emissions

(June 06, 2007) Switching to energy-saving electrical appliances could lead to a cut of up to about 40% in global warming gas emissions per household, according to the 2007 white paper on the environment. The report emphasized the im-portance of developing and popularizing energy-saving technology. The white paper calls for developing energy-saving technologies, such as high-performance fuel cell batteries for electric cars, and emphasizes the need to ap-ply existing energy-saving technologies to every corner of society. Hydrogen Extraction From Animal Waste

(June 06, 2007) The Kinki University has found an efficient way to extract hydrogen from the methylamine in animal waste. The new procedure degrades methylamine using the catalyst titanium oxide, as well as a platinum catalyst and ultraviolet light. In the presence of UV light, the catalysts drive a reaction that converts methylamine into carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The research group now aims to modify the catalyst so the hydrogen producing reaction can be made using visible light instead of UV light. Energy Conservation Through Resource Sharing

(June 09, 2007) The Chiba prefectural government plans to promote energy conservation in the prefecture’s water-front complex by utilizing some firms’ waste, such as steam and hydrogen, as resources for other companies and sharing facili-ties. Eleven firms, including Idemitsu Kosan Co., Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Mitsui Chemicals Inc., will take part in the plan, according to the local government. Participating companies are expected to go ahead with three pro-jects, such as utilization of cool air generated when vaporizing liquefied natural gas, and scrapping or consolidating aging boiler facilities. The projects can potentially help conserve energy equivalent to 220,000 kiloliters of crude oil per year. Generation Of Hydrogen From Wood Chips

(June 15, 2007) The Osaka University Joining and Welding Research Institute has developed a way to generate large volumes of hydrogen gas from wood chips and other wood scrap. Discarded wood is placed in a chamber filled with argon gas and a high-frequency discharge is produced. When steam is jetted into the chamber, the discharge turns it into a plasma of hydrogen and oxygen ions. This plasma reacts with carbon in the wood, yielding carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas. Sixty grams of charcoal can generate hydrogen gas in a concentration of 3,300 parts per million. Plastic Sheets To Improve Fuel cell Efficiency

(June 15, 2007) Kyoto University and Mitsubishi Plastics Inc. have developed a way to manufacture plastic sheets with a number of minute, uniformly sized holes. Such sheets are made by letting a composite sheet made from polypropylene fiber and rubber absorb carbon dioxide under supercritical pressure. When the resulting sheet is heated in a lower-pressure environment, CO2 vaporizes, leaving tiny holes. The sheets are expected to make fuel cells more efficient.

May 2007

Hydrogen Car Promotion (May 23, 2007)

BMW AG will launch test runs of a mass-produced hydrogen vehicle in Japan to promote its environmental tech-nologies. Two vehicles will run on public roads in Tokyo, Kyoto and several other cities. In addition, exhibitions for children on hydrogen technologies and test drives for the public will be held to broaden familiarity with this type of vehicle. The model used in the test runs will be powered by hydrogen-combustion engines that emit no CO2 and can keep the car running for a 200km stretch. Small, Thin, Light Fuel cell

(May 24, 2007) Osaka City University has developed a tiny fuel cell that has a sheet-like structure and weighs only 0.7g, neverthe-less boasting a power output of 1 watt per gram. The prototype measures 3cm sq. and 0.4mm thick. Hydrogen sup-





plied from below combines with oxygen from the air to generate electricity. The fuel cell is made from a layer of metal-plated titanium, a layer of carbon interspersed with platinum and ruthenium, and a layer of a polymer electro-lyte, all joined together by heating. Hydrogen Separation Membrane For Fuel cell Supply

(May 28, 2007) The Japan Fine Ceramics Center has collaborated with Noritake Co. and others to develop a high-performance hydrogen separation membrane made from ceramic materials. The cylindrical membrane is roughly 3mm in diame-ter and is composed of three layers of ceramic materials with progressively smaller pores. When methane gas and steam are flowed down the outside of the membrane, the catalysts drive a reaction that decomposes the methane to yield hydrogen and carbon monoxide, only letting the hydrogen molecules pass through the pores. A prototype device based on this membrane that can attach directly to a gas pipeline to supply hydrogen for fuel cells using city gas as the source.

April 2007

Integrated Cell Seal And Board For Fuel Cells (April 04, 2007)

NOK Corp. has developed an integrated cell seal and board for use in fuel cells. Fuel cells are constructed from a number of individual electricity-generating cells, and the cell seal is the material that encloses each cell so that electrolytes, hydrogen and other compounds do not leak out. Circuit boards are used to monitor temperature, volt-age and other conditions inside the cells and send warnings when abnormalities are detected. Flexible circuit boards can be bent for easier placement in narrow spaces. By integrating the seal with the board, parts count and thereby manufacturing costs are reduced. Rise In R&D Spending

(April 13, 2007) Toyota Motor Corp. projects its group R&D spending will climb to about 1 trillion yen. This would be the first time a Japanese company's R&D investment has reached the 1 trillion yen level. This marks an increase of 10% from the expected fiscal 2006 figure. The increase is due to the company’s decision to accelerate the development of hybrid technology and other advanced environmental technologies for bioethanol and hydrogen-fueled cars. Fuel Cell Stack Technology Improves Car Performance

(April 17, 2007) Honda Motor Co. recently completed successful test-drives of its latest prototype fuel cell car. Good performance is dependant on the fuel cell stack. For each fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a pair of separators that supply oxygen from the air and the hydrogen fuel. Honda developed its stack with Japanese mate-rials makers. The improvements achieved enable cars to run at temperatures as low as -20C, and make long-distance rides without fuel refills possible. Hydrogen Yield Rate Boosted

(April 20, 2007) Kobe Steel Ltd. has succeeded in increasing the yield of high-purity hydrogen from natural gas, promoting the use of fuel cell cars. In the attempt to refine natural gas, the difficulty of removing carbon monoxide has limited hydro-gen yield rates to no more than 70%. Kobe Steel has increased the yield to 80% by using an absorbent supple-mented with copper compound to remove the CO. The resulting hydrogen is at least 99.9% pure. Parcel Delivery Company To Test Fuel Cell Car

(April 20, 2007) Toyota Motor Corp. plans to test its fuel cell hybrid commercial vehicle starting late this month by renting one out to door-to-door parcel delivery company Yamato Holdings Co.. The carmaker's FCHV will be configured to carry par-cels and collect fuel economy and other data that will help advance the commercialization the vehicles. The test vehicle will come equipped with a 90kw fuel cell, a tank for storing high-pressure hydrogen gas and a motor pow-ered by a nickel-hydrogen battery.





Cheap Hydrogen Absorption Compound (April 27, 2007)

The Tokai University has synthesized a new type of hydrogen absorption compound that is made from inexpensive materials and exceeds the 3% by-weight absorption criterion set by automakers as a prerequisite for fuel cell cars. The intermetallic compound is made by rotating microparticles of magnesium and aluminum at high speed under vacuum conditions at room temperature. By optimizing the ratio of magnesium to aluminum and adding 1% nio-bium oxide as a catalyst, a material is obtained which is able to absorb 4.3% its weight in hydrogen. The new com-pound operates at 300 C and takes around an hour to absorb and release hydrogen. Fish Robot Uses Fuel Cell

(April 27, 2007) Osaka City University has developed a fish-shaped robot prototype that is powered by a fuel cell. The 10 x 3cm prototype can swim by moving its tail fin using power generated by mixing oxygen collected in its back with hydrogen produced in the head using a water high polymer solution and powdered calcium. The use of a fuel cell could significantly prolong the operating time of such a device – a design using magnesium instead of calcium may enable the robot to operate for three consecutive hours.

March 2007

Cheap Device For Reducing Dioxin In Incinerator Ash (March 02, 2007)

Hydrogen Energy Laboratory Project Co. has developed an inexpensive device that greatly reduces dioxin content in incinerator ash. When incinerator ash is heated to 900°C to 1,200°C, the bonds of dioxin molecules are weak-ened. Following this, the ash is placed in the device, which contains hollow ceramic particles, and is cooled rapidly to around 200°C. Having absorbed the heat, the ceramic particles give off far-infrared rays that break down dioxins. As a result of this treatment, dioxin content is reportedly reduced to 1 nanogram per gram of incinerator ash -- one-third the government standard. Discovery Of Extremely Narrow And Long Ionized Gas Cloud

(March 06, 2007) Researchers from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and the University of Tokyo discovered an unusual streak of ionized hydrogen gas associated with a galaxy 300 million light-years from Earth. The filament of gas is only 6 thousand light-years wide, yet ex-tends 200,000 light-years, about the distance between the Milky Way Galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud. Finding such an extremely narrow and long ionized gas cloud is a first in astronomy. Safe And Easy Hydrogen Storage

(March 14, 2007) Kurita Water Industries Ltd. has developed a clathrate compound that can be used for the safe and easy storage and transport of hydrogen. The compound has a lattice structure with open spaces that holds the hydrogen when heated and pressurized, and releases it when the temperature and pressure are lowered. Because the compound is not heavy like hydrogen storage alloys, it would be practical for transporting large volumes of hydrogen. More-over, transportation and storage would be far safer than when hydrogen is compressed. Turning Ethanol Into High-Purity Hydrogen

(March 16, 2007) Toshiba Corp. has developed technology for turning ethanol into high-purity hydrogen for fuel cells and hydrogen-powered cars. In terms of energy efficiency, the process is no more costly than making hydrogen from natural gas. The standard chemical reaction that converts ethanol into hydrogen also yields carbon dioxide, so the hydrogen is only around 65% pure. Toshiba has developed a procedure that uses a special catalyst and a proprietary lithium compound oxide composite that absorbs CO2 to produce hydrogen with greater than 99.9% purity. Photolysis System Using Visible Light

(March 26, 2007) A research team led by Prof. Kazunari Domen at the University of Tokyo has developed a way to use visible light to dissociate water and make hydrogen gas. Conventional water photolysis systems use ultraviolet light, which only





accounts for around 5% of the total light energy from the sun. Since visible light makes up roughly 50% of the wavelengths of sun rays, tapping into this part of the spectrum makes the photolysis process far more efficient. In Prof. Domen’s setup, the photolysis reaction is sparked by gallium nitride and zinc oxide powders, which can glean the energy from wavelengths of 400-500nm in the visible part of the spectrum. New Fuel Cell For Small-Scale Applications

(March 30, 2007) The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and NGK Spark Plug Co. (5334) an-nounced the development of a solid-oxide fuel cell that is only the size of a sugar cube yet generates a relatively high power output of 2 watts. The new fuel cell is made from a series of tubes embedded in an electrically conduc-tive ceramic material. Development work to date has focused on large-scale applications, whilst the new technol-ogy opens up a wider range including small-scale applications such as cellular phones.

February 2007

Electric Cars Target Of Battery Partnerships (The Nikkei Weekly, February 05, 2007)

With gasoline-electric hybrid cars winning consumer popularity and fuel cell cars on the drawing board, the battery technologies that both kinds of vehicles need could give rise to battery-powered all-electric cars as well. Nissan Motor Co. and NEC Corp. agreed to join forces to develop lithium-ion batteries for vehicles, a partnership that will also counter a similar tie-up formed earlier between sector rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Previous opportunities to develop electric cars were ruined by the high cost and low performance of the batteries at the time. Swiss Pavilion At World's Largest Fuel Cell Expo

(Swiss Science & Technology Office, February 7-9, 2007) Switzerland was well represented at FC EXPO 2007, world's largest exhibition in the fuel cell & hydrogen industry, which was held for the third time from 7-9 February 2007 in Tokyo. As one of only three national pavilions, the Swiss Pavilion attracted many of the 24’494 visitors of the exhibition, presenting the latest technology of six Swiss companies and research centers, from hydrogen production and new fuel cell designs to completely integrated systems for the energy supply of single family homes. Swiss television and radio also reported on the Swiss Pavilion and FC Expo. The Swiss Pavilion was brought into being by the Science & Technology Office of the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo and has been kindly supported by Presence Switzerland, Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, State Secretariat for Education and Research SER, Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology OPET, Innovation Promotion Agency CTI and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE. In 2008, the FC Expo will take place again at the same place from February 27-29. 70% Cut In CO2 Emissions Possible By 2050

(The Daily Yomiuri, February 18, 2007) The adoption of energy-saving technologies could reduce the country's carbon dioxide output by 70 percent by 2050, according to a report compiled by the Environment Ministry. The reduction would require an annual invest-ment of 6.7 trillion yen to 9.8 trillion yen in such technologies. The report estimated CO2 emissions for 2050, based on the adoption of realistic technologies such as fuel cells and biomass thermal-power generation, in two scenar-ios. One scenario involved a technology-focused approach that relied on innovative technologies, and the other involved a nature-orientated approach that focuses on energy-saving technologies. Fuel Cell Taxi

(Kyodo News, February 20, 2007) Nissan Motor Co. has leased an environmentally friendly fuel cell car to Yokohama-based taxi company Kanagawa Toshi Kotsu. The taxi firm will offer limousine taxi services using the high-tech car which does not emit any harmful exhaust gases, adding fares will be identical to those for ordinary limousine taxis. The X-Trail FCV, which can manage a maximum speed of 150 kilometers per hour, can travel up to 370 km on a full fuel tank.





Test-Production of Frozen Natural Gas (Bloomberg, February 27, 2007)

The government will start test production of frozen natural gas in Canada's permafrost area as part of Japan's 16-year project to siphon gas from methane hydrate. Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals Corp. and Canada's natural re-sources ministry drilled a test well inside the Arctic Circle, and plan to start extracting gas from the hydrates, an ice-like form of methane trapped in oxygen and hydrogen. Japan is accelerating efforts to develop technologies to ex-tract gas from the methane hydrate deposits lying under the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan seabed, to break the country's dependence on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia for its oil and gas supply.

January 2007

More Efficient Photocatalyst For Hydrogen Production From Water (The Nikkei Business Daily, January 11, 2007)

Prof. Akihiko Kudo of the Tokyo University of Science has developed a method to more efficiently extract hydrogen from water using a photocatalyst that can absorb a wider range of light. Most photocatalysts developed so far ab-sorb only ultraviolet light, but the new photocatalyst is capable of absorbing visible light with wavelengths in the range of 400-800 nanometers. The new photocatalyst, a black ball only 1 micron in diameter, is an indium-copper-silver sulfide containing deposits of ruthenium. Its efficiency could pave the way for producing hydrogen from water in quantities large enough to be used, for example, in fuel cells. Low Temperature Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell

(The Nikkei Business Daily, January 18, 2007) A joint research group from the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has developed a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that can operate with high efficiency at relatively low temperatures of around 500-650°C. In comparison, conventional SOFCs need to be heated to some 800°C to operate with this kind of efficiency. The achievement is thanks to the development of an improved type of air electrode that is made from silver nanoparticles attached to porous ceramic. Fuel Cell Electrolyte Film With Greater Output

(The Nikkei Business Daily, January 26, 2007) Kuraray Co. has developed an electrolyte film for compact fuel cells with 30% greater output than its earlier prod-ucts. The new film is a direct methanol fuel cell type in which methanol reacts in an electrode. At 30 microns thick, the new film is just 60% the thickness of earlier films. Methanol transmittance has been suppressed by half, while resistance to hydrogen ions has been reduced by around 40%. Kuraray used a thermoplastic resin made of hydro-carbon materials in the electrolyte film. It has twice the output of fluorine-based films, which are the most common type of electrolyte film.

December 2006

Small Fuel cells (December 13, 2006)

Hitachi Ltd. plans to commercialize a small fuel cell that runs on methanol for electronic devices. These cells can be smaller because they are fed methanol directly without the need for complicated catalytic reforming. A cell phone can be fully recharged with a single infusion of methanol in a few minutes. Hitachi miniaturized the electro-lyte membrane materials and platinum particles that serve as solvent, increasing the life to roughly 10,000 hours. It also boosted power output to about 100mw per sq. cm, a level high enough for commercialization. Long-Lasting Catalyst For Kerosene Fuel cells

(December 20, 2006) Idemitsu Kosan Co. has developed a longer-lasting catalyst for fuel cells that use hydrogen derived from kerosene. In these fuel cells, the catalyst drives the reforming process whereby hydrogen is generated from kerosene and water in a heated reaction chamber. Idemitsu's new catalyst can operate for 40,000 continuous hours, which is five times as long as existing catalysts and equal in duration to the lifetime of the fuel cell itself. Li-Ion Battery R&D Tie Up

(December 21, 2006) Nissan Motor Co. and NEC Corp. will form a tie-up in development of lithium ion batteries for use in hybrid and fuel cell cars. By joining forces, they hope to catch up to the rival team of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Toyota





Motor Corp., which is ahead in the development race. Through their venture, they plan to develop and commercial-ize small but high-capacity lithium ion batteries, which are projected to become the dominant technology for fuel-efficient vehicles in the future. Aiming For World No. 1 Methanol Producer

(December 22, 2006) Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. plans to double its methanol production capacity in Venezuela in a bid to tap growing demand for the alternative fuel. The company seeks to boost its global capacity to 8.3 million tons a year by 2010, which would put it above industry leader Methanex Corp. of Canada. Methanol, which can be obtained in liquid form from inexpensive natural gas, is a key raw material for producing chemicals. In addition to plastics, demand is expected to grow as an alternative to gasoline in biodiesel fuel as well as for fuel cells.

November 2006

Notebook Fuel cells Closer To Reality (November 14, 2006)

Casio Computer Co. has prototyped a methanol reformate fuel cell that is small in size and outputs enough power to drive a digital camera. Casio collaborated with other companies to develop these components, but it worked on its own to develop a replaceable methanol cartridge that can safely supply methanol fuel no matter how it is posi-tioned. The methanol reformer measures just 27.2 x 46mm and is only 2.8mm thick. The prototype has four-layered structure with a power output of 2 to 4 watts. With higher output cells, the same structure could power a notebook computer. Nanotech Material Joint Venture

(November 15, 2006) Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. have injected additional capital into their joint venture researching and developing new materials using nanotechnology. The firm is now 50% controlled by Mitsubishi Chemical and 28% owned by Mitsubishi Corp. Frontier Carbon studies fullerene, a carbon compound with a wide variety of poten-tial applications from fuel cells to cancer drugs. Fuel-Cell Train Prototype Reaches 50kph

(November 27, 2006) Fuel cell-powered trains are sparking interest as an environment-friendly mode of trans-portation that can also improve the views along the railway, as it eliminates the need for overhead power lines. At Tokyu Car Corp.'s factory, a hybrid train clocked 50kph on the 300m test track. But according to officials, the prototype train can go up to around 100kph and accelerate almost as smoothly as the commuter trains currently in service. JR East aims to test the train on its commercial routes as early as fiscal 2007.

October 2006

Carmakers Strengthen Green Vehicles Lineup (October 02, 2006)

With "green" vehicles to meet a projected sharp increase in demand, Japanese auto-makers are moving to solidify their positions as global leaders in environmental tech-nologies. Honda Motor Co. plans to roll out an improved fuel cell vehicle in 2008, as well as eco-friendly diesel vehicles for the U.S. market within three years. Toyota Motor Corp. is developing more fuel-efficient hybrids. Fuel cell Wheelchairs

(October 04, 2006) An experiment is currently underway at a vocational training school for physically chal-lenged people in Osaka to obtain data on the stability, economic feasibility and environ-mental performance of fuel cell wheelchairs. Kurimoto, Ltd. has been developing such wheelchairs since 2003 in anticipation of increased demand for them as the Japanese population ages. The new wheelchairs can run 60km or for 10 hours continuously. The





distance is twice the level covered by conventional battery-driven wheelchairs without recharging. Platinum-Free Electrode Catalyst For Cheaper Fuel cells

(October 23, 2006) A research group led by Masatoshi Nagai of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has developed a new fuel cell electrode catalyst that does not require platinum and may result in lower production costs. The device uses molybdenum and nickel as its chief raw materials. Power generation efficiency of a fuel cell using the new catalyst is only about 1/10 that of a fuel cell using conventional platinum catalysts. But manufacturing costs can be reduced to 1/1,000 the current level. The group plans to refine the material and raise power generation efficiency to roughly 30% of a platinum catalyst. Power Consumption Control System For Homes

(October 24, 2006) Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. has developed a system that can efficiently control power consumption in homes. Ten or more homes equipped with fuel cells are linked by electrical wiring to form a network. Software fore-casts the power demand of each home, calculating the next day's power generation plans daily. Power is shared among the home in the network based on calculated usage and any energy surplus is automatically stored.

September 2006

Affordable Fuel cell Cars By 2015 (September 04, 2006)

Nissan Motor Co. has set a goal of lowering the cost of fuel cell vehicles to around 1.2 times that of regular mass-produced vehicles by 2015. The automaker received authorization from the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Min-istry for its X-Trail fuel cell vehicle (FCV). This vehicle has a production cost in excess of 100 million yen, compared with around 2 million yen for a non-fuel-cell model. Over the next decade, Nissan will focus on making the FC stack and hydrogen tanks more compact and lighter. It also expects to be benefiting from economies of scale. Mobile Phone Company Invests In Fuel cell Firm

(September 11, 2006) Japan's NTT DoCoMo will take a large stake in Aquafairy Partnerships with the aim of jointly developing micro fuel cells for its handsets. Mobile phone and consumer technology firms have been eying fuel cell technology as a means of overcoming the limitations of conventional batteries in running increasingly energy-hungry portable elec-tronic devices. The two companies are already in the midst of developing a micro fuel cell recharger for DoCoMo's latest 3G FOMA handsets based on Aquafairy's hydrogen fuel cell technology. Small Hydrogen Generating Device

(September 15, 2006) Air Water Inc. has developed a smaller machine for generating hydrogen gas on-site. The machine uses natural gas as the hydrogen source instead of ethanol, eliminating the need for a heating furnace. The result is a machine only half of the size of comparable devices. The new machine produces hydrogen by reacting natural gas with oxy-gen, creating heat that is used to extract hydrogen from the molecules that compose natural gas. Fuel cell Wheelchair

(September 21, 2006) Suzuki Motor Corp. has developed a four-wheel motorized wheelchair that is powered by a direct methanol fuel cell. Existing wheelchairs of this kind are typically powered by lead-acid batteries that need to be charged for eight hours in order to drive a distance of 20km. Suzuki's motorized wheelchair, powered by the direct methanol fuel cell, can travel more than 40km on 4 liters of fuel. Moreover, no time-consuming recharging of batteries is required.

August 2006

Team Up In Home Fuel cell Operations (August 22, 2006)

Nippon Oil Corp. will provide Japan Energy Corp. with residential fuel cells on an OEM basis starting next fiscal year. Nippon Oil has developed with Sanyo Electric Co. a fuel cell that runs on hydrogen extracted from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It has also developed a kerosene-compatible cell with Ebara Corp. Nippon Oil and J-Energy





aim to cut costs by leveraging their pooled orders. The arrangement will also expand J-Energy's lineup to include kerosene fuel cells. Home Fuel cells Still Too Expensive

(August 22, 2006) To defray the roughly 5 million yen production cost of home fuel cells, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry this fiscal year will provide subsidies of 4.5 million yen per unit to such suppliers as Nippon Oil. A standard 1kw fuel cell is capable of supplying about 60% of the power for a typical household of four, as well as nearly all of that household's boiler needs. In order for households to gain economic benefits from fuel cells however, reducing start-up costs to about 500,000 yen is deemed crucial. Manufacturers will be faced with stepping up partnerships and technological development, and the government may need to consider supporting measures, including consumer subsidies.

July 2006

Core Equipment For IS Process Hydrogen Production (July 05, 2006)

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has created a prototype core equipment essential for the so-called IS process for the production of hydrogen. The IS process is a method of producing hydrogen from water at high heat through the chemical reaction of iodine and sulfur. The equipment developed by JAEA passed helium gas tightness testing and is also resistant to earthquakes. Research is proceeding on the process as a technology that will allow for the production of hydrogen without emitting carbon dioxide by making use of the roughly 900°C helium gas ob-tained from high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Hydrogen Energy Research Fund

(July 06, 2006) As part of its efforts to make a social contribution Nippon Oil Corp. has established a charitable trust called the "ENEOS Hydrogen Fund." The fund aims to contribute to developing a hydrogen-based society by providing subsi-dies for basic research on hydrogen energy. The total amount of yearly grants is 50 million yen, with 10 million yen being the upper limit for a single grant. Eligible candidates for the subsidies are those who work on hydrogen pro-duction research projects at universities, public research institutes and non-profit research organizations in Japan. Fuel cell Using Water-Aluminum Reaction

(July 12, 2006) Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. has developed a fuel cell using water and aluminum to generate hydrogen. The newly devel-oped fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), based on a hydrogen generation system utilizing the reac-tion between aluminum and water. The company has also succeeded in developing a 10-watt mobile power source using the fuel cell, which can run a laptop PC. Micro Fuel cell For Mobile Phone

(July 15, 2006) NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Aquafairy Co. have co-developed a micro fuel cell for mobile phones that is the world's smallest with a power output of 2 watts. The rectangular-shaped cell is easy to carry, measuring just 24mm wide, 24mm deep and 70mm high. When connected to the lithium-ion battery of a cell phone, the fuel cell can recharge it more than three times, taking about the same amount of time as a conventional AC adapter. Improved Photocatalyst For Hydrogen Production From Water

(July 20, 2006) A research team from the Tokyo University of Science has developed an improved photocatalyst that yields 150% more hydrogen when exposed to ultraviolet light in the presence of water. The work is part of an effort to develop practical ways of manufacturing hydrogen from water in space. With the new photocatalyst, about 56% of the ab-sorbed light gets used to dissociate water and produce hydrogen. In comparison, other photocatalysts only use around 20% of the light. Improved Hydrogen Generation Using Photocatalysts

(July 27, 2006) A group at the Tokyo University of Science has developed a more efficient means of generating hydrogen from wa-ter via photocatalysts and visible light. By using a special pair of photocatalysts and adding a small amount of iron,





the water can be completely dissociated, and hydrogen can be generated in quantities up to 10 times greater than current processes. The innovation represents a step forward in the quest to make hydrogen for fuel cells using only water and sunlight, without any need for fossil fuels.

June 2006

Compact Home Use Fuel cell System (June 09, 2006)

Ebara Corp. will begin sales of a compact, long-life fuel cell system for home use. The system can operate for 40,000 hours, double that of existing 1-kilowatt systems to date. It is also 40% lighter than systems currently available. The core fuel-cell stack to be used in the system was dev eloped by Ballard Power Systems Inc. The stack uses fewer parts, is 26% smaller than Ballard’s existing equipment and is designed to incorporate low-cost materials. Ceramic Membrane Reformer

(June 10, 2006) A research group led by Dr. Hitoshi Takamura of Tohoku University has developed a prototype of a compact re-former using an oxygen-permeable ceramic membrane that can produce hydrogen from natural gas. The group succeeded in developing the membrane by miniaturizing particles of cerium oxide, which conducts oxygen ions as well as particles of ferrite, which conducts electrons. The new reformer equipped with this membrane is six centi-meters square, and can produce 10 liters of hydrogen per minute, a volume sufficient for a one-kilowatt fuel cell. Very Fast Hydrogen Gas Sensor

(June 12, 2006) A research team at Yokohama National University has developed a sensor that can detect the presence of hydro-gen gas in less than 1 second and is sensitive enough to detect it in amounts of as little as 100 parts per million (ppm). Because the new sensor acts so quickly, it has promising applications in fuel cells to detect hydrogen gas leaks. Hydrogen and oxygen can react explosively, so the quick detection of such leaks is essential. Thinner Fuel cell Separator

(June 15, 2006) Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Inc. has developed a fuel cell separator that is half the thickness of conventional products. The component separates the oxygen from the methanol solution that is used to generate electricity. Dainippon Ink made the new separator from a composite of conductive carbon and a lightweight resin devised by the company, resulting in a thickness of just 0.15mm while retaining strength. The separator weights 1.8 gram per cubic centimeter, one-fourth as much as metal components. It is also an improvement because it is more resistant to corrosion by methanol than is stainless steel. Because multiple separators are used in a fuel cell to achieve the desired voltage, the thin new separator will increase design freedom in electronic equipment. Need For Alternatives To Rare Metals

(June 19, 2006) The Education, Science and Technology Ministry will look into developing alternatives to rare metals used in Ja-pan's leading high-tech industries. The ministry concluded it needs to devise practical alternatives since Japan faces potentially unstable supplies as it relies on imports of the rare metals, including indium, used in the manufac-ture of liquid crystal displays; platinum, used in fuel cells; tungsten, used in superhard tools for manufacturing proc-essing tools for semiconductors; and tantalum, used in condensers for cell phones. Production Of Hydrogen From Woody Biomass

(June 22, 2006) A research team from the Tokyo Institute of Technology has developed a machine that produces hydrogen from woody biomass more efficiently using less nickel catalyst. Because nickel catalyst is expensive, the machine can produce hydrogen for fuel cells for less cost. The team envisions a compact version being used by households to generate hydrogen for fuel cells to provide energy for their homes. The procedure is a modification of the reaction normally used to extract hydrogen from cellulose using a nickel catalyst. But in that process, air and water vapor are supplied from below and churn the catalyst.





May 2006

Tubular Micro Fuel Cell (May 10, 2006)

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology of Japan (AIST) has developed a highly efficient micro-sized solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with a tubular shape. Although SOFCs are the most efficient type of fuel cells, the application of conventional SOFCs has been limited mostly to large-scale power systems due to their high operating temperatures, usually 800 to 900 degrees C. With its advanced ceramic processing technol-ogy, AIST has succeeded in developing a micro tubular SOFC that can operate at tempera-tures as low as 500 to 600 degrees C. The micro SOFC is one centimeter long, with a di-ameter of 0.8 to 1.6 millimeters. A fuel cell stack composed of about a hundred 0.8 mm-diameter SOFCs per cubic centimeter could generate 15 watts of electricity at an operating temperature of 550 degrees C. Producing Hydrogen From Cracked Heavy Oil

(May 18, 2006) A research group from Kyoto University has worked with Ebara Corp. to develop a way of producing hydrogen for fuel cells from cracked heavy oil, which is a byproduct in the synthesis of ethylene from naphtha. To produce hy-drogen, the cracked heavy oil is placed in a chamber packed with a catalyst and then exposed at high temperature to a mixed gas of helium and water vapor. Because of the growing demand for ethylene, large amounts of cracked heavy oil are now being generated and there is a need for ways of making use of the substance. Using cracked heavy oil to produce hydrogen for fuel cells provides a solution, and it also yields hydrogen more cheaply than pro-cedures that start with methane or kerosene.

April 2006

Experimental Energy Power Generation System A Disappointment (April 03, 2006)

Carbon dioxide emissions from an experimental new energy power generation system demonstrated at the 2005 World Exposition Aichi produced 270 tons more CO2 than if the electricity had been generated using conventional methods. The experiment was conducted during the expo by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Develop-ment Organization (NEDO) to try to reduce CO2 emissions in power generation. Solar power generators and fuel cells were the core of the equipment. Hydrogen gas needed for generating power was extracted mainly from food scraps collected from restaurants at expo venues. Smaller Fuel Cells For Notebook PC

(April 07, 2006) Casio Computer Co. has developed a chip-type component that will enable the use of solid-polymer fuel cells for notebook computers that are 90% smaller than direct-methanol fuel cells. Solid-polymer fuel cells are powered by hydrogen extracted from fuel. While they can be made smaller than direct-methanol fuel cells, the slow operation of the so-called reformer, which extracts hydrogen from fuel, meant starting up a computer took a very long time. The new reformer can operate in six seconds, 300 times faster than existing models. Notebook PCs powered by fuel cells using the new reformer will be able to run for 20 consecutive hours on a single charge, about four times longer than PCs powered by lithium-ion batteries of the same size. 10kW Fuel Cell

(April 11, 2006) Kansai Electric Power Co. and Mitsubishi Materials Corp. have jointly developed a fuel cell with a power output of 10kW and an energy efficiency of 56%. The firms are working together to develop fuel cells as power sources for supermarkets and other retail stores and small factories. Until now, the most powerful system they built had a power output of just 1kw. The fuel cell uses city gas as a hydrogen source. Others developing 10kw-class fuel cells achieve an energy efficiency of only around 40%, the company explains. Catalyst For Generation Of Hydrogen Gas From Biomass

(April 14, 2006) Toda Kogyo Corp., a leading manufacturer of magnetic iron oxide products, has collaborated with the Tokyo Insti-tute of Technology to develop a type of iron oxide material that can catalyze the generation of hydrogen gas from biomass with high efficiency. When heated, the iron oxide material catalyzes a reaction between hot steam and





wood chips and other wood scrap that results in the generation of hydrogen gas. Toda Kogyo developed the iron oxide material, and the university's Research Center for Carbon Recycling and Energy ran verification experiments. Highly Efficient Hydrogen Separation Membrane

(April 19, 2006) A research team at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has developed a highly efficient hydrogen separation membrane for the low-energy production of hydrogen gas for fuel cells and other ap-plications. To date, hydrogen separation membrane have been made from a layer of palladium and a layer of alu-mina. The new membrane adds a third layer that effectively creates a space between the other two. Doing this fa-cilitates the passage of hydrogen across the membrane and helps prevent cracks from forming in the other layers. The result is that hydrogen can be separated more than twice as fast, and the process can be carried out stably for more than 150 hours.

March 2006

Fuel Cell Components Market Trend (March 10, 2006)

The market for major components of fuel cells is expected to exceed 200 billion yen in 2020, up from 3.3 billion yen in 2005, according to a recent survey. Around 80% of the fuel cell components market consists of electrode materi-als, electrolytes and other materials used in parts that generate electricity. Demand for motors used in fuel cell ve-hicles is expected to grow to more than 1 million units, representing a 34 billion yen market. The survey also re-veals that hydrogen-related markets will grow to more than 94 billion yen from 1.6 billion yen in 2005. Installation of hydrogen stations, for instance, is expected to pick up after 2015 as hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles become more popular. Using Wind Power To Produce Hydrogen

(March 14, 2006) The concept of exploiting wind power to extract hydrogen for fuel cells is gaining momentum in Hokkaido, where the abundant wind can be tapped for this purpose. Although the amount of electricity generated by wind power is unstable, using this energy to extract hydrogen with which to power fuel cells could result in a more stable power source. The city of Wakkanai recently began a test of a 4.8kw fuel cell powered by hydrogen extracted utilizing city-owned wind turbines. A local consortium of industry, academia and government set up the cell. Microreactor For Hydrogen Extraction

(March 24, 2006) Toshiba Corp. has developed a microreactor that functions like a miniature hydrogen reformer, extracting hydrogen from dimethyl ether (DME) and carbon-based fuels to power a fuel cell. The palm-size device is about one fifth the proportion of a conventional hydrogen reformer, but it produces 200cc of hydrogen per minute when fed 50cc of DME and 200cc of water. That is enough hydrogen to enable a solid polymer fuel cell to generate around 20 watts of electricity and power a notebook computer. Because the microreactor is small, the overall fuel cell system can be miniaturized, making it easier to integrate into computers and other electronic products.

February 2006

Home-Use Fuel Cells Spreading (February 14, 2006)

A new market is starting to take root for fuel cells for the home. Nippon Oil Corp. will begin marketing kerosene-based fuel cells for the home and Cosmo Oil Co. is working with Toshiba Corp. to develop a similar system. Idemi-tsu Kosan Co. is also testing a kerosene-based fuel cell for homes. Last year both Nippon Oil and Cosmo Oil be-gan leasing fuel cells that run off liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Idemitsu, Japan Energy Corp. and Showa Shell Sekiyu KK are now also testing these kinds of fuel cells. Meanwhile, the gas companies are focusing on fuel cells that run off city gas. Hydrogen Car For Lease

(February 16, 2006)





Mazda Motor Corp. will begin leasing the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, a car equipped with a rotary engine that can run off either hydrogen or regular gasoline. When powered by hydrogen, the car runs clean with no gas emissions. And because the car can also run off gasoline, it can be driven places where hydrogen filling stations are not yet avail-able. Because the RX-8 Hydrogen RE has a simpler structure than hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars, the cost of leasing is also only half of that of a fuel-cell-powered car. Compressor For Hydrogen Filling Station

(February 17, 2006) Hitachi Industries Co. has developed a high-performance compressor for service stations that supply hydrogen gas to fuel cell vehicles. The compressor works to transfer hydrogen from the delivery truck to the on-site storage tank. Compared to other compressors, the new machine from Hitachi Industries is more efficient at removing hydrogen from the truck tank, and it then compresses the gas to 100 megapascals before transferring the hydrogen to the storage tank. Swiss Nanotech Pavilion With Record PAC-Car II At World's Largest Nanotech Expo

(Swiss Science & Technology Office, February 21-23, 2006) The spacious Swiss Nanotech Pavilion at nanotech 2006 has been organized by the maker of NanoEurope and supported by the Swiss Science & Technology Office. Eight booths have been presenting the latest achievements in the field of nano and biotechnologies. The presence of Swiss excellence in research and education has been underlined by the hydrogen-driven PAC Car II, which achieved the world record by traveling a distance of 5385 km per liter (gasoline equivalence). During three days, this ETH Zurich project lead by Professor Lino Guzzella has been a highlight at this, the largest nano-technology exhibition, with over 45’000 visitors. It is to hope that many more Swiss participants will use this platform in February 2007 and join the Swiss Nanotech Pavilion as well as scientific sessions to present top high-tech made in Switzer-land. Details on nanotech 2006: http://www.ics-inc.co.jp/nanotech/index_e.html

January 2006

Smallest Fuel Cell For Notebooks (January 04, 2006)

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. has developed one of the industry's smallest fuel cells suitable for notebook per-sonal computers. Developed jointly with the University of Pennsylvania, the prototype uses methanol as its power source. A 200cc injection of methanol is enough for the fuel cell to supply power for roughly 20 hours, almost twice as long as a fully recharged lithium-ion battery can last. The prototype's power output averages 13 watts and reaches as high as 20 watts. While fuel cells powered by hydrogen are used for automobiles, the lower output methanol-based fuel cells are expected to become the mainstream for information devices in light of their stability. Low-Temperature Hydrogen-Generation

(January 09, 2006) GS Yuasa Corp. has developed a way to make hydrogen at far lower temperatures than conventional methods, making it possible to make compact hydrogen-generating devices for fuel cells that power notebook computers and other portable products. The firm discovered that hydrogen is created at the electrode when a methanol-based fuel cell is generating electricity with the air supply kept to one-10th the normal amount. A key feature of this reaction is that it runs at around 30-90 C whereas current hydrogen-generation reactions run at temperatures of at least 150 C. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrode Operable Under 600 C

(January 20, 2006) Hosokawa Powder Technology Research Institute has developed a fuel cell electrode that can operate at 600 C or lower. This performance was made possible by improving the method of synthesizing and connecting metallic par-ticles used to make the solid oxide-type fuel cell electrode. The electrode can reduce the length of standby time when starting up a fuel cell to about 20 minutes, one-third the current levels. It also enables the use of inexpensive materials in fuel cells, such as stainless steel. High-Performance Fuel Cell Membrane

(January 24, 2006) Kuraray Co. has developed a high-performance electrolyte membrane that blocks the passage of methanol while allowing hydrogen ions to cross. It will use this new membrane to mass-produce membrane electrode assemblies

http://www.ics-inc.co.jp/nanotech/index_e.html





(MEAs) for direct-methanol fuel cells in 2008. The MEA for a fuel cell for a notebook computer will be around the size of a cigarette lighter. Record PAC Car II at World's Largest Fuel Cell Expo

(Swiss Science & Technology Office Tokyo, January 25-27, 2006) As a masterpiece of Swiss high-tech, the PAC-Car II project has been presented at the world's largest fuel cell exhibition in Tokyo. With 5385 km per liter (gasoline equivalent) running on hydrogen, the PAC-Car II achieved this sensational world record in fuel effi-ciency at the Shell Eco-Marathon in France last year. The ETH Zurich project, lead by Professor Lino Guzzella, has been presented by Dr. Chris Onder and the Swiss Science & Technology Office at the FC Expo 2006 in Tokyo. During the three days of the exhibition, this top Swiss high-tech was a clear highlight at the academic forum of the exhibition and resulted in various interviews with renowned newspapers such as the Times and Nikkei News-paper among three others. It has been a successful presentation of top high-tech, underlining the excellence of the research and education landscape in Switzerland. Sub-Zero Operating Fuel Cell Membrane

(January 27, 2006) JSR Corp. has commercialized the first electrolyte membrane for fuel cells that can operate at temperatures below freezing. Made from a hydrocarbon material, the new electrolyte membrane can operate at temperatures between minus 20 C and 95 C. The electrolyte membrane, the core component of a fuel cell, is where oxygen and hydrogen react to yield electrons. The ability to withstand freezing temperatures makes fuels cells a suitable power source for vehicles in harsh environments. Conventional electrolyte membranes made from fluorine-based compounds can only operate within the range of 0 to 80 C. Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

(January 30, 2006) The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has developed a prototype solid ox-ide fuel cell (SOFC) that operates with high energy efficiency at the relatively low temperature of 570 C. SOFCs boast twice the energy conversion efficiency of the polymer-electrolyte fuel cells that are now being designed for cars but operate at extremely high temperatures, making them impractical for automotive applications. The new SOFC can generate 1 watt per sq. centimeter when heated to only 570 C whereas conventional SOFCs made with zirconia-based electrolytes need to be heated to around 800-900 C to attain the same level of energy efficiency.

Disclaimer The information in this newsletter is an opinion excerpt of news material from Japan and gathered to the best knowledge of the writer. The newsletter tries to provide information without any news preferences, and takes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information. No legal liability or responsibility can be taken. The information is provided for informational purposes only. No part of the newsletter may be used for any commercial or public use. Open disclosure of this newsletter is not permitted.

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