The team will initially investigate the configuration and specifications of a hydrogen energy system including all processes from hydrogen storage and liquefaction to transportation and utilization.
The hydrogen energy system is being designed to convert renewable electricity into a large volume of hydrogen for long-term storage. It will have maximum capacity equivalent to 10,000kW.
Additionally, the system will play a major role in stabilizing the grids with a high penetration of renewable, while flattening output fluctuation, Toshiba said.
Tohoku Electric Power manager Mitsuhiro Matsumoto said: “We will study how to use hydrogen energy systems to stabilize electricity grids with the aim of increasing the use of renewable energy.”
The project has received funding from the Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Company general manager Hiroyuki Ota said: “Through this project, Toshiba will continue to provide comprehensive hydrogen solutions, encompassing all processes from the production to utilization of hydrogen.
“Our hydrogen solutions will help to improve energy efficiency in various situations and contribute to the realization of a carbon-free society where hydrogen energy is widely used.”
Upon assessing the feasibility over the next year, the partners plan to produce a report on the project by September 2017.
If feasible, the hydrogen system will be deployed in Fukushima prefecture in Tohoku, the northeastern region of Japan.
Toshiba said that the project also intends to coordinate the overall operations of the hydrogen energy system, electricity grid control system and liquefied hydrogen demand forecast system with a new control system.
The process is expected to optimize hydrogen production, hydrogen electricity generation and hydrogen gas supply.
