Why HORIBA
With our corporate philosophy of contributing to the development of science and technology and the preservation of the global environment, we are constantly in pursuit of "HONMAMON" technology.
Table of Contents
Amid the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis, a policy toolkit for governments to support stronger action on energy efficiency was launched at the 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency conference hosted by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The toolkit provides a practical approach to accelerating action on energy efficiency by guiding governments in designing effective policy measures, supporting policy decisions, and implementing policy measures. It combines regulation/information/incentives and designs policies based on 10 strategic principles, including ensuring economic/social/environmental benefits, promoting DX, and strengthening international collaboration, and enlightens the transportation and building sectors with immediate impact, as well as their own citizens, to be guided immediately from behavioral change. (June 2022)
Reference link: IEA "Policy Toolkit"
The European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have jointly published a report examining trends in patent applications relating to water electrolysis (tanks) for the period 2005-2020.
The overall trend for both domestic and international patent applications combined is an average annual increase of 18% in the number of applications, with China, Japan, Korea, the U.S., Germany, and France having the largest number of applications by country, in that order, with China having by far the largest number of domestic applications.
Comparing the numbers of international patents alone, the number of applications is higher in Japan, the U.S., Germany, Korea, France, and China, in that order, and by technology, catalytic technology using non-precious metals reversed precious metals in 2018, and photoelectrolysis technology is increasing, mainly in academia.As for trends in Europe and Japan, which account for about half of the total number of patents, Europe is leading in electrolyzer (41% share in the field), electrocatalyst materials (34%), and cell operating conditions and structure (31%), while Japan is leading in stack technology (39%) and cell configuration technology such as separators (34%). In separator technology, in particular, international patent applications by Japanese companies for ceramics membranes dominated the list, while the number of applications for electrolyzer cost reduction technology increased, and the United States tended to file applications in a wide range of fields, giving an insight into the technological strategies of each country and company. (May 2022).
Reference link : IRENA "Patent insight report - Innovation trends in electrolysers for hydrogen production"
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan, has issued a report titled "Competition for Resources in the Renewable Energy Era: The Case of Germany's Lithium-Ion Battery Policy.
The purpose of the report is as follows: "Compared to localized fossil energy, renewable energy has the advantage of being ubiquitous on the planet. Therefore, energy security in the carbon-neutral era will be at a major turning point, along with industrial policies such as storage batteries that complement it. On the other hand, the manufacture of storage batteries requires rare earths and other rare materials, which are as localized as fossil energy, posing a dilemma. To avoid this problem, the German government has adopted a policy of inviting the global battery industry and circulating rare earths domestically. Currently, demand for automotive batteries in Europe is growing faster than in China, and Germany is expected to be the center of this growth, surpassing the U.S. and ranking second in the world after China in terms of LIB production capacity in 2025. At the same time, it is beginning to build a supply chain of recycling and reuse domestically, and is also taking the lead in the circular economy".
Germany also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for bilateral science and technology cooperation in the battery field with the Japanese government in 2017, suggesting that the German government is strategically pursuing industrial policies with an eye to the future. This report concludes that Germany's approach of constructing a comprehensive policy covering everything from resources to industry and society is highly suggestive. (April 2022)
Reference link: NEDO, "Overseas Trends: Competition for Resources in the Renewable Energy Era: Germany's Lithium-Ion Battery Policy as an Example" (Japanese only)
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has issued a report summarizing the current status of technologies for "generating" renewable energy such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, offshore wind, and onshore wind, and technologies for "storing" energy such as water electrolyzers and household storage batteries, including cost reduction, current technical issues, and performance forecasts for 2050. This report is the result of the European Commission's "Horizon 2020" (https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-2020_en), which aims to link industry and academic research in 2021 (TEIIF project).
With regard to water electrolyzers, which have received particular attention in recent years, comparisons have been made mainly between alkaline and PEM types.The PEM type, which is still in the process of development, is said to have greater variation from project to project, and the inclination for cost reduction is also greater for the PEM type, and it will take more time before a conclusion is reached. Japan, the U.S., and Germany lead in the number of high-value patent applications, and overall, the common issue is to increase the scale of projects. For more information, please refer to the report from the link below. (March 2022)
Reference link：IRENA "Renewable Technology Innovation Indicators: Mapping progress in costs, patents and standards"
Currently, green hydrogen (hydrogen produced with electricity derived from renewable energy sources) is mostly a local business with on-site production/consumption, but is expected to become an internationally traded commodity in the future.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has summarized the report of geopolitical factors to consider regarding international hydrogen procurement risk/opportunity, such as renewable energy production potential, procurement risk of rare earths used in water electrolysis equipment, pipeline networks, and technological development.
In its conclusions, the report appeals for international cooperation to ensure the rapid deployment of hydrogen and its long-term contribution to decarbonization. Supporting the deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen in developing countries, particularly in Africa, is essential to decarbonizing the energy system and will contribute to global equity and stability. For more information, please click on the link below to read the report. (February 2022)
Reference link：IRENA "Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: The Hydrogen Factor"
In 2022, there is a growing possibility that the movement toward Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions will accelerate, especially in Japan.
One of the backgrounds of this trend is the "Green Value Chain Platform" disclosed by the Ministry of the Environment. In recent years, companies have become more aware of their own emissions, and from the perspective of enhancing CSR, they are likely to shift/accelerate from "their own emissions" to "emissions of the entire supply chain (GHG Protocol Scope 3)".
Under Scope 3, emission reductions by other businesses involved in the supply chain are also considered as their own reductions, and the structure is designed to accelerate the industry-wide acceleration of such reductions. (January 2022)
Reference link: Ministry of the Environment "Green Value Chain Platform"
Battery recycling" and "energy-saving technology through automatic driving" are being discussed regarding electric vehicles (EVs).
As for battery recycling, there is a growing movement toward LIB battery regulations in order to enclose the battery market in the European region. Japan has also set up a requirement to include recycled materials and a numerical target for recycling rate, and is considering a proposal to develop a "technology to recover more than 70% of lithium, 95% of nickel, and 95% of cobalt" as a follow-up to these targets, including an institutional framework. The proposal to develop a technology that recovers at least 70% lithium, 95% nickel, and 95% cobalt is under consideration.
In addition, with regard to energy-saving technologies for automatic driving, it is expected to develop technologies for reducing traffic congestion and controlling acceleration and deceleration in combination with connected technologies, as well as simulation technologies for estimating CO2 reduction effects through power consumption management of vehicle sensors, etc. However, for example, it is said that using automatic cruise control on highways improves fuel efficiency by about 10% for engine cars, which does not necessarily apply to EVs, since they are highly energy-efficient and have low fuel consumption speed. In addition, when charging infrastructure is also taken into consideration, overall efficiency must be discussed in combination with grid power supply and demand, and the difficulty of estimating the effects is quite high. (November 2021)
Reference link: Ministry of Economy, Japan "Trade and Industry "Industrial Structure Transformation Field Working Group" (Japanese Only)
In preparation for COP26 (the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held from October 31 to November 12, 2021), the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) published a report on October 22 summarizing the efforts of major countries (the United States, China, the European Union, and the United Kingdom) in the area of carbon neutrality. The report summarizes the efforts of major countries (U.S., China, EU, and U.K.) to become carbon neutral.
In particular, the U.S., EU, and U.K. are notable for including support not only for research and development, but also for infrastructure and facility projects and job creation. For more details, please refer to the following link. (October 2021)
Reference link: NEDO "Trends in major overseas countries (U.S., China, EU, U.K.) regarding carbon neutrality toward COP26" (Japanese only)
The Hydrogen Ministerial Conference, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and NEDO, was held online on October 4, 2021, bringing together representatives from various countries, international organizations, and companies committed to the hydrogen society. The Hydrogen Ministerial Conference began in Japan in 2018 and is now taking place for the fourth time.
The Ministers from New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Chile, EC (European Commission), Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, UAE, IEA, IPHE (International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells), Hydrogen Council, and JH2A (Japan H2 Association) participated. In addition, the heads of 14 countries/agencies including South Korea, Russia, Canada, DoE (United States Department of Energy), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) sent video messages. Local governments and private companies from Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Lancaster City, California, USA, also participated. Panel discussions were divided into four sessions: "Supply Chain," "Regional Models," "FC Modules," and "Water Electrolysis.
Among the many discussions, there was a strong assertion that climate change will not wait if a hydrogen society is not realized soon, especially in Europe and the U.S. On the other hand, the panelists discussed the importance of hydrogen trade prices that are not yet in the market economy, flexible private sector and speedy policy synchronization, and international cooperation to complement each country's characteristics/regional differences.
The development of hydrogen strategies has now expanded to 17 countries, and global trends and stances are becoming clearer, including countries that are in the process of developing their own strategies. (October 2021)
Reference link: Ministry of Economy, Japan "Fourth Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting Held"
