TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today announced the start of demonstration operation of H2One, an independent energy supply system based on renewable energy and use of hydrogen as a fuel for power generation. Kawasaki City and Toshiba have installed the system at the Kawasaki Marien public facility and Higashi-Ogishima-Naka Park in the Kawasaki Port area.
H2One combines photovoltaic installations, storage batteries, hydrogen-producing water electrolysis equipment, hydrogen and water tanks, and fuel cells. Electricity generated from the photovoltaic installations is used to electrolyze water and produce hydrogen, which is then stored in tanks and used in fuel cells that produce electricity and hot water.
Since H2One uses only sunlight and water for fuel, it can independently provide electricity and hot water in times of emergency, even when lifelines are cut. Kawasaki Marien and Higashi-Ogishima-Naka Park, a municipal facility to promote Kawasaki Port, is a designated emergency evacuation area. In times of disaster, H2One will use stored hydrogen to provide an estimated 300 evacuees to the site with electricity and hot water for about one week. The H2One system is housed in a container, and can be transported to disaster-hit areas on trailers.
In normal, non-emergency operation, H2One’s hydrogen energy management system is used to contribute to peak shift, which reduces demand for mains power at times of high demand, through optimized control of hydrogen production, power generation and storage. Toshiba is working to enhance its hydrogen storage capabilities to realize a self-contained solution of local energy production for local consumption.
The demonstration project will verify the effectiveness of a hydrogen-based emergency electric power and hot-water supply system and a hydrogen energy management system in normal operating circumstances at both of the Kawasaki sites. It will also support improvement of overall system efficiency.
Toshiba is committed to creating a safe, secure and comfortable society, the “Human Smart Community,” that includes production of hydrogen from water by electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources. To achieve this commitment, Toshiba will combine wide-ranging technologies from across Toshiba Group.
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Outline of Demonstration |
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| Installation sites | Kawasaki Marien and Higasi-Ogishima-Naka Park | |
| Period | April 20, 2015 to March 31, 2021 | |
| Demonstration |
• Operation of the hydrogen energy management system under normal
circumstances |
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| Key specifications |
Hydrogen production: 1 m3 maximum per hour |
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Hydrogen consumption: 2.5 m3 maximum per hour |
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Hydrogen tank storage capacity: 33 m3 maximum (270 Nm3, 0.8 MPa) |
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| Hot water supply capacity: 75 liters maximum per hour (40 °C) | ||
| Photovoltaic facility: 30 kW | ||
| Fuel cell output: 3.5 kW maximum | ||
| Electricity storage capacity: 350 kWh | ||
| Fuel cell efficiency: 95% (55% for electricity and 40% for hot water) | ||
About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500
company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and
electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains:
Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems &
Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products &
Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the
Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba
promotes global operations towards securing “Growth Through Creativity
and Innovation”, and is contributing to the achievement of a world in
which people everywhere live safe, secure and fulfilled lives.
Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global
network of over 590 consolidated companies employing over 200,000 people
worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.5 trillion yen (US$63 billion).
To
find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm
