Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS), Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., and Iwatani Corporation announced that Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R), which had been under construction in Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture since 2018, has been constructed with a solar-energy-powered 10MW-class hydrogen production unit, the largest in the world, at the end of February.

The FH2R can produce as much as 1,200 Nm³ of hydrogen per hour (rated power operation) using renewable energy. Renewable energy output is subject to large fluctuations, so FH2R will adjust to supply and demand in the power grid in order to maximize utilization of this energy while establishing low-cost, Green hydrogen production technology.

Hydrogen produced at FH2R will also be used to power stationary hydrogen fuel cell systems and to provide for the mobility devices, fuel cell cars and buses, and more.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry promotes the adoption of hydrogen in its Basic Hydrogen Strategy published in December 2017, which also targets power-to-gas (P2G) technology for the storage and use of hydrogen-based energy that can be stored in large quantities for long periods of time as output increases.

Power-to-gas using hydrogen requires a power grid supply-and-demand balancing function (demand response) to maximize use of renewable energy which undergoes significant fluctuations in output. The technology also needs functions to optimize system operation according to hydrogen supply and demand forecasting.

With sights set on expanding the use of renewable energy, Toshiba ESS, Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., and Iwatani Corporation are working with NEDO on a technology development project that aims to establish a hydrogen usage business model and hydrogen sales business model for demand response.

Renewable energy is subject to large output fluctuations, so FH2R aims to maximize its utilization and establish low-cost, Green hydrogen production technology without the use of storage batteries by adjusting to supply and demand in the power grid.

FH2R. FH2R uses 20MW of solar power generation facilities on a 180,000m² site along with power from the grid to conduct electrolysis of water in a renewable energy-powered 10MW-class hydrogen production unit. It has the capacity to produce, store, and supply up to 1,200 Nm³ of hydrogen per hour (rated power operation).

Hydrogen is produced and stored based on the hydrogen demand and supply forecasting system’s forecasts for hydrogen demand in the market. Adjustments to balance supply and demand in the power grid can be made by adjusting the hydrogen volume produced by the hydrogen production unit to meet the power grid adjustment needs of the power grid control system.

The most important challenge in the current stage of testing is to use the hydrogen energy management system to achieve the optimal combination of production and storage of hydrogen and power grid supply-demand balancing adjustments, without the use of storage batteries.

To address this challenge, testing will begin to identify the optimal operation control technology that combines power grid demand response with hydrogen supply and demand response, using units of equipment that each have their own different operating cycles.

Hydrogen produced at FH2R will mainly be transported in Hydrogen tube trailers and hydrogen bundles, to be supplied to users in Fukushima Prefecture, the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, and other regions.

Overview of FH2R system

Toshiba ESS is supervising the overall project and the overall hydrogen energy management system. Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. is responsible for EMS and SCADA and grid-related matters. Iwatani Corporation’s focus is hydrogen demand, supply forecast system, transportation and storage of hydrogen.