As a major energy consumer in East Asia, Japan has been deeply involved in the hydrogen energy industry for many years and has a relatively complete policy and industrial foundation. We can analyze the development path of Japan's hydrogen energy industry by looking at the development technology of hydrogen fuel cell lithium batteries.
Zhou Jie is the Secretary-General of the International Clean Energy Forum (Macau), an important window for my country's state-owned energy enterprises to expand overseas within the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative. He has long been engaged in diplomatic work and has in-depth observations and research on international clean energy development, particularly the Japanese energy system. He is currently a researcher at the Wuhan New Energy Research Institute.
On September 18, 2019, in order to achieve the national hydrogen energy development strategic goals proposed in the "Basic Strategy for Hydrogen Energy" and the "Fifth Basic Energy Plan," Japan, following its revision of the "Strategic Roadmap for Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Lithium-ion Batteries" in March of this year, quickly released the significant "Strategy for the Development of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Lithium-ion Batteries Technology." This technology development strategy focuses on three main areas: fuel cell lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen production and storage and transportation and related industrial chains for hydrogen fuel cell power generation, and hydrogen production through water electrolysis, encompassing ten key technologies.
Key Development Areas in the Field of Fuel Cell Lithium-ion Batteries
There are many types of lithium-ion batteries for hydrogen fuel cell power, but Japan's focus in developing lithium-ion battery technology is primarily on two categories: polymer electrolyte lithium-ion fuel cell batteries (PEFC) and solid oxide lithium-ion fuel cell batteries (SOFC). The former is suitable for automotive power needs, while the latter is mainly used for industrial and commercial power generation or energy storage. High efficiency, durability, and cost are fundamental to the commercialization of lithium-ion fuel cell batteries. The key objectives of technology development are: to minimize the amount of platinum catalyst used, to find platinum alternative catalysts, and to achieve a power generation efficiency of over 65% for lithium-ion fuel cell batteries.
1. Powered fuel cell lithium-ion battery technology (PEFC): By 2030, the driving range will increase from the current 700 km to 800 km; the maximum power density will increase from the current 3.0 kW/L to 6.0 kW/L; the service life of passenger cars and commercial vehicles will exceed 15 years; the price of fuel cell lithium-ion battery systems will decrease from 20,000 yen/kW to 2,000-4,000 yen/kW; the price of hydrogen storage systems will decrease from 700,000 yen to 100,000-200,000 yen, and the hydrogen storage capacity can reach 5.7 wt% (equivalent to 5 kg). Specific objectives are: to reduce the amount of platinum catalyst used (0.1 g/kW) and develop non-platinum catalysts or catalysts that reduce free radical generation; to achieve high proton conductivity, thinness, low gas permeability, and high durability in the electrolyte membrane; to reduce the resistivity of the gas diffusion layer from the current 5-10 mΩ•cm to 1.5-2.5 mΩ•cm, and improve gas permeability and hydrophobicity; to ensure the battery separator has durability, low resistance, good drainage, and excellent stamping process; to ensure the sealing material prevents gas passage and coolant leakage, and improves gas tightness; to develop catalysts, carrier materials, and electrolyte membranes that can maintain high-temperature performance at 100-120℃; and to develop related fuel technologies that maintain normal normal operation and good durability under extreme environments, such as further reducing the minimum start-up temperature from -30℃ to -40℃.
2. Stationary Fuel Cell (SOFC) Technology: By 2025, the cost of low-voltage SOFC systems will be ¥500,000/kW, with a power generation cost of ¥25/kWh; the cost of high-voltage SOFC systems will be ¥300,000/kW, with a power generation cost of ¥17/kWh. Specific goals include: achieving a power generation efficiency of over 65% (LHV) for SOFC stack systems; increasing stack life from the current 90,000 hours to over 130,000 hours (approximately 15 years) and significantly reducing start-up time; improving fuel utilization of SOFC systems; and developing stacks suitable for multi-fuel systems such as biomass fuels. Furthermore, general technologies for SOFC also include: developing mass production processes for SOFC components; developing SOFC energy management systems; and establishing standards and test models for accelerated degradation testing of SOFC performance and durability.
3. Auxiliary equipment, hydrogen storage tanks and related technologies: Develop efficient production processes for mobile hydrogen storage tanks and other containers that reduce carbon fiber usage; optimize fuel cell lithium battery system technologies, including auxiliary equipment, and reduce costs; develop new applications for fuel cell lithium batteries beyond passenger vehicles.
Hydrogen production, storage, transportation and power generation related industrial chain
Technological Development Focus
The hydrogen energy industry chain encompasses three technologies: production, storage and transportation, and power generation. While there are numerous hydrogen production methods, including fossil fuel reforming, decomposition, photolysis, and water electrolysis, Japan's hydrogen production technology focuses primarily on utilizing Australian brown coal and domestic renewable energy-based water electrolysis technology. Regarding storage and transportation technologies, there are various methods such as high-pressure hydrogen storage, liquid hydrogen storage, metal hydride hydrogen storage, organic hydride hydrogen storage, and pipeline hydrogen transportation, but Japan prioritizes liquid hydrogen storage and transportation technology. Pure hydrogen fuel cell power generation is a crucial technology in Japan's future thermal power generation strategy, with a focus on achieving stable combustion. Overall, improving energy efficiency and reducing costs are the most critical elements for the formation of the hydrogen energy industry chain.
4. Large-scale hydrogen production technology: Develop efficient and low-cost lignite gasification furnace equipment, reducing the cost of hydrogen production from lignite gasification from the current several hundred yen to twelve yen/Nm³; at the same time, develop efficient large-scale water electrolysis equipment.
5. Storage and Transportation Technologies: Improve hydrogen liquefaction efficiency, reducing energy consumption from 13.6 kWh/kg to 6.0 kWh/kg; develop compressors suitable for cryogenic hydrogen transportation; develop large-scale hydrogen transport arms with lower costs; develop liquid hydrogen booster pumps suitable for hydrogen fuel power generation; develop insulation materials and cooling systems for hydrogen storage tanks suitable for large-scale maritime transport or onshore storage; develop metal and resin materials usable in cryogenic regions and establish relevant technology evaluation systems; improve the performance of hydrogenation or dehydrogenation catalysts and reduce toluene usage from the current 1.4% to 0.7%; utilize waste heat to achieve low-carbon dehydrogenation processes and reduce costs; develop new catalysts such as electrolytic synthesis to reduce the overall system cost, etc.
6. Hydrogen fuel power generation technology: The key is to achieve pure hydrogen combustion power generation, with a focus on developing technologies to prevent backfire and combustion vibration. Specifically, this involves developing low-NOx, high-efficiency burners that match the characteristics of hydrogen fuel power generation; utilizing waste heat from power generation to efficiently achieve the dehydrogenation reaction of hydrogen carriers such as methylcyclohexane (MCH) and ammonia, while reducing costs.
7. Hydrogen refueling technology: Set a cost control target for the construction and operation and maintenance of hydrogen refueling stations by 2025, reducing construction costs from 310 million yen to 200 million yen and annual operation and maintenance costs from 32 million yen to 15 million yen. The specific objectives are: to conduct a risk assessment of unmanned refueling stations and related equipment configurations through remote control; to obtain data on the reaction characteristics of common metal materials with hydrogen; to extend the lifespan of hydrogen accumulators and develop new detection methods, reducing costs from 0.7 billion yen to 0.1 billion yen; to further improve the durability of refueling hoses and sealing materials; to develop new temperature rise control refueling protocols; to achieve unified equipment specifications and standardized operating procedures for refueling stations based on operational data analysis; to reduce the cost of hydrogen compressors from 0.6 billion yen to 0.5 billion yen, while simultaneously developing electrochemical or thermochemical compressors; to develop liquid hydrogen pumps; to develop refueling and metering technologies for new application scenarios such as fuel cell-powered lithium-ion battery trucks; to develop large-capacity, lightweight hydrogen storage containers, increasing the capacity of land-based hydrogen storage tanks from 2,500 m³ to 50,000 m³ and the capacity of marine transport hydrogen storage tanks from the current 1,250 m³ to 40,000 m³; and to develop large-capacity, durable hydrogen storage materials.
Key Development Areas in Hydrogen Production Through Water Electrolysis
Hydrogen production via water electrolysis mainly includes alkaline water electrolysis (ALK), proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEM), alkaline anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEM), and high-temperature solid oxide water electrolysis (SOEC). The overall goal of technology development is to elucidate the degradation mechanism of electrolyte materials, improve the efficiency and durability of water electrolysis equipment while reducing costs, and meet the requirements of high-load operation, rapid load fluctuations, and quick start-up and shutdown.
8. Hydrogen production technology by water electrolysis: (1) Technology development goals for 2030 have been set for ALK and PEM water electrolysis devices. The technology will be developed to expand the range of controlled current density, increasing it from the current 1.0-2.0 A/cm² to 2.5 A/cm²; energy consumption will be reduced from the current 5.0 kWh/Nm³ to 4.5 kWh/Nm³; equipment costs will be reduced by decreasing the amount of electrolytic metals used, with alkaline water electrolysis equipment decreasing from the current 120,000 yen/kW to 52,000 yen/kW and PEM water electrolysis equipment decreasing from the current 250,000 yen/kW to 65,000 yen/kW; operation and maintenance costs will be reduced from the current 24,000 yen/Nm³/h to 4,500 yen/Nm³/h per year; the decay rate will be reduced to 0.12%/1000 hours; the amount of catalyst metals used will be reduced, with platinum decreasing from the current 0.2-0.5 mg/w to 0.1 mg/w and other precious metals decreasing from the current 0.5-1.5 mg/w to 0.4 mg/w; and the durability of electrodes and other related materials and components in the electrolytic cell must be improved to cope with load changes. (2) In the AEM water electrolysis device, explore the degradation mechanism of electrolyte materials and catalyst materials to further improve their durability; develop efficient, durable, and low-cost fuel cell stacks. (3) In the SOEC water electrolysis device, improve the durability of fuel cell stacks; develop low-cost fuel cell stack manufacturing technology. (4) In the basic technology of water electrolysis, develop basic technologies such as water electrolysis reaction analysis and performance evaluation; develop integrated system optimization algorithms including auxiliary equipment; develop efficient, durable, and low-cost methane gasification devices, etc.
9. Industrial Application Technologies: The key objective is to promote the utilization of green hydrogen. Specific content includes: assessing the economic benefits and carbon dioxide emission reduction effects of green hydrogen fuel substitution; researching the potential of hydrogen energy utilization in the steel smelting industry, such as hydrogen reduction ironmaking technology; conducting a full life-cycle assessment of the hydrogen energy industry chain; researching the potential of utilizing existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transportation; researching green hydrogen utilization and integration technologies in petrochemical company clusters; developing hydrogen substitution technologies for high-temperature heating fields where electricity substitution is difficult; and expanding the application areas of hydrogen fuel, etc.
10. Innovative Technology Directions: Medium- to long-term technology development directions with a target of 2050 have been identified. Specific objectives include: researching new technologies such as efficient water electrolysis, artificial photosynthesis, and membrane separation for pure hydrogen production; developing innovative and efficient hydrogen liquefaction equipment; developing long-life liquefied hydrogen storage materials; developing low-cost, efficient, and innovative energy carriers and their production technologies; developing innovative technologies for efficient, stable, compact, and low-cost fuel cell lithium batteries; and developing technologies for synthesizing chemicals using green hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Following the Paris Agreement, the development goal of moving from a low-carbon society to a decarbonized society has become a global trend. Hydrogen energy, as a clean energy source, is not only widely used in transportation, construction, power, energy storage, and other industries, but also provides an effective decarbonization pathway for industries that are difficult to decarbonize, such as steel, petroleum, and chemical manufacturing, as well as high-temperature combustion, becoming an important tool for achieving the goal of a decarbonized society. For Japan, hydrogen energy not only provides another option for promoting energy diversification and ensuring energy security, but more importantly, it has become a crucial strategic resource for driving energy structure transformation and achieving the goal of a decarbonized society. Therefore, Japan is devoting national resources to developing the hydrogen energy industry. In 2019, the R&D budget for hydrogen fuel cell lithium-ion battery technology reached $590 million, exceeding the $420 million in 2018 and far surpassing that of European and American countries. The significant launch of the "Hydrogen Fuel Cell Lithium-ion Battery Technology Development Strategy" not only identifies key technological bottlenecks for Japan's construction of a hydrogen society but will also lead the global development of hydrogen energy and fuel cell lithium-ion battery technology.
