On August 26, New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) announced the first proposition for “Green Innovation Fund Project” to utilize two trillion yen in total for the development of decarbonization technology.
The adopted 11 projects include the subjects of liquid hydrogen, verification of MCH global supply chain, hydrogen gas turbine and larger water electrolyzer. 　
The featured project of “Verification of Large-scale LH2 Supply Chain” is implemented by Japan Hydrogen Energy (100% owned by Kawasaki Heavy Industries), ENEOS and Iwatani.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries supplies large-sized facilities for commercial use such as LH2 carriers loaded with LH2 tank of 160 thousand m3 and LH2 tank of 50 thousand m3 class for inland use. The three companies will examine an integrated international supply chain ranging production, liquefaction, dispatching, marine transportation and receiving.
　The total business scale combining Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ innovative development of liquefying technology amounts to 300 billion yen. NEDO subsidizes 220 billion yen. It is aimed to supply hydrogen of more than 20 thousand tons (2.2 billion Nm3) annually and a supply cost (onboard delivery) of 30 yen per Nm3 in 2030.
As for the MCH-related matters dealt with by ENEOS, they will establish dehydrogenation technologies utilizing the existing oil refinery facilities, and verify a supply chain of about several thousand ton/year scale. They also will develop a direct MCH electrolytic synthesizing technology which enables production of MCH with a single stage from water and toluene without going through hydrogen gas by means of making toluene cause a direct reaction electrically and chemically.
In the technologies of hydrogen power generation, JERA, Kansai Electric Power and ENEOS will verify the combustion of hydrogen (mixed/exclusive) respectively. With the different size of gas turbine, combustion and operation, they intend to examine the stability of combustion. In tie-up with the verification of international supply chain, they will examine hydrogen power generation in use of imported hydrogen and MCH.
　In the water electrolysis equipment, Asahi Kasei and JGC HD will be engaged in the development of a large-scale device of alkaline type and a synthesizing technology of green chemicals like ammonia and methanol. 　
The developed water electrolysis module will be connected and used ultimately to examine the equipment of 40MW class (8,000Nm3/h) for the verification of green chemical plant. They aim to reduce the cost of alkaline water electrolysis device down to 52 thousand yen/kW by 2030.
　Furthermore, in the field of water electrolysis of PEM type, eight companies and groups coordinated by Corporate Bureau of Yamagata Prefecture develop a large-scale equipment and verify decarbonization of thermal requirements. Referring to the PEM-type device of 1.5MW (300 Nm3/h made by Hitachi Zosen) located on Yonekurayama of Yamanashi Prefecture, they will develop a standard module of several MWs.
A prototype of 16MW class (3200 Nm3/h) will be produced after connecting with the developed module, and will be utilized to verify decarbonization using a hydrogen boiler.
They have a target to realize a PEM-type device of 100MW (20 thousand Nm3/h) class, and reduce the cost of device to 65 thousand yen/kW by 2030.
NEDO is now examining the developments of next-generation airplane and ship as the second project for the Green Innovation Fund. The result of examination for adoption will be announced after October according to the Administration Office of Green Innovation Fund. In addition, the maximum of budget for the projects planned for September and later has been decided to be 193.5 billion yen for “Utilization of Hydrogen in Steelmaking Process” and 68.8 billion yen for “Establishment of Ammonia Supply Chain”.