On May 17, 2016, Tokyo (former Governor: Yoichi Masuzoe), Fukushima Prefecture (Governor: Masao Uchibori), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (President: Ryoji Chubachi; hereinafter “AIST”), and Tokyo Environmental Public Service Corporation (Chair of Executive Board: Hiroshi Mori) signed an agreement for collaboration and cooperation related to research and development of CO2-free hydrogen and renewable energy. This agreement aims to promote the use of CO2-free hydrogen and introduction of renewable energy in Fukushima prefecture, and also aims to support the reconstruction from disaster in 2011.
Tokyo is implementing various measures to realize a hydrogen society, such as popularization of fuel-cell vehicles, development and promotion of hydrogen stations, etc. In addition, Fukushima Prefecture, which aims to be a pioneer in the use of renewable energy, is expanding advanced approaches that are necessary for large-volume introduction of renewable energy including to the utilization of hydrogen. AIST is implementing joint R&D in the field of renewable energy and hydrogen, and collaborating with local companies. The Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute for Environmental Protection, which is run by the Tokyo Environmental Public Service Corporation, has initiated new investigative research oriented towards utilization of hydrogen energy in FY2016. This agreement aims to synergize the approaches of these four parties, find appropriate ways of actively utilizing “Fukushima-made” CO2-free hydrogen, realize a “hydrogen society”, and accelerate the reconstruction of the disastered area as well.
As part of the collaboration and cooperation based on this agreement, initiatives will be made to increase utilization of CO2-free hydrogen,. Namely, ①to undertake research and development in the field of renewable energy, ②to promote business linked to technological development with companies in Fukushima Prefecture, ③to foster /exchange human resources, ④to dispatch information, and ⑤to disseminate results.
The following concrete approaches will be taken for this collaboration.
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Research and development
R&D activities related to production, transport/storage, and usage of CO2-free hydrogen
※*Holiding a joint meeting oriented towards building energy management using hydrogen and utilization of CO2-free hydrogen (Secretariat: Tokyo Environmental Public Service Corporation, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute for Environmental Protection)
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Fostering/exchange of human resources
Exchange of researchers, fostering of corporate engineers
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Welcome researchers from the Tokyo Environmental Public Service Corporation, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute for Environmental Protection into the AIST’s FREA, and carry out joint research
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The AIST will give technical support to the companies in Fukushima Prefecture trying to approach toward practical development of social infrastructure by incorporating technology related to CO2-free hydrogen.
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Dispatch of information/dissemination of results
Public relations aiming to popularize CO2-free hydrogen
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PR on the approaches in this collaboration agreement and on approaches oriented toward technological development of hydrogen and renewable energy in Fukushima Prefecture and hydrogen society in Tokyo. Events related to hydrogen, renewable energy, and the environment wiil be held in Fukushima Prefecture and Tokyo.