Status: 14.03.2021 1:42 a.m.
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Many associate Fukushima only with the worst aspects of nuclear power. In Japan, the name has long been synonymous with the most modern forms of energy generation.
From Kathrin Erdmann,
ARD-Studio Tokyo
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A white box, behind it four tanks and lots of silver-colored outer pipes: The Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field, FH2R for short, is located in the small town of Namie not far from the damaged nuclear power plant. Research into hydrogen production is being carried out there on an area of 22 hectares. Five companies have come together under the umbrella of the state organization for research and development projects, or NEDO for short.
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Kathrin Erdmann
ARD-Studio Tokyo
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Pioneer in the Japanese energy transition
Eiji Ohira is Director General of the “Next Generation Batteries and Hydrogen” department at NEDO. A busy man who has three smartphones next to him and immediately tells him that he likes Germany. Because everything is top secret, the facility can only be viewed from the outside. At one point the air conditioning hums, a little further on there is a loud noise from silver pipes, several tanks are right next to it. Ohira explains: “These are storage tanks. We have eight of them, each eighteen meters high and can hold up to five kilos of hydrogen.” There are long tubes for hydrogen on several trailers around the corner – for filling stations, for example.
The research center was only opened in March 2020 and fits in with the Japanese climate targets of phasing out coal power by 2050 and increasing focus on hydrogen in addition to nuclear power. The Japanese government plans to provide almost 16 billion euros for the latter form of energy by 2030.
Fukushima goes one step further: From 2040, the prefecture wants to supply electricity entirely from renewable energies. Engineer Ohira is unable to say how high the proportion of hydrogen will be. “Research on hydrogen has been around for a long time, but our technology is still in its infancy. Only when generation, storage and methods are established can we slowly think about how high the share of renewable energies should be.”
The researchers at NEDO are proud that Fukushima is playing an important role in the further development of hydrogen technology.
Image: Kathrin Erdmann / NDR
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Long road to green hydrogen
There is still a long way to go until then, says Ohira. The aim must also be to produce “green” hydrogen, ie one that is obtained from renewable energies such as wind, solar or hydropower. The FH2R relies on solar energy, the panels are on the edge of the system.
Japan, however, has not yet followed this path, but produces “blue” hydrogen – that is, coal is used, and it comes from Australia. And that’s not the only criticism of hydrogen. Production is still time-consuming and expensive.
Fields with solar cells enable the production of “green” hydrogen.
Image: Kathrin Erdmann / NDR
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NEDO department head Ohira dampens hopes for quick success: “It takes decades to change the energy structure of a country. We are thinking of the next step in 20 years. Research and development is one thing, but we also have to gain the trust of the population Generate hydrogen. And be able to process a larger amount. ” The general director said that there was still a great deal of suspicion about hydrogen.
Japan’s long-standing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has already promoted the expansion of hydrogen, and his successor Yoshihide Suga is continuing this. Shortly before the end of the year, an association of eighty companies was founded, among other things for infrastructure expansion. So far there are almost 200 filling stations for fuel cell vehicles in Japan.
Fuel cell cars have so far not been very successful
The car company Toyota is playing a central role in the expansion. In 2014 he launched the Mirai fuel cell car, albeit with moderate success. Not even 15,000 vehicles were sold. At the end of 2020 Mirai 2, which means “future” in German, was presented. Cost point: 54,000 euros and up.
At the presentation, chief engineer Yoshikazu Tanaka said that if you recognize hydrogen as an energy source, you can use it in a variety of ways – for example to generate electricity from the hydrogen fuel cell. This could become the starting point for a hydrogen society.
The next step is the Olympic Games. Not only should the corresponding vehicles be used there, but, says NEDO engineer Ohira: “The Olympic flame should burn with hydrogen from Fukushima.” The people in Japan and the rest of the world should see: Fukushima has long been synonymous with progress.
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