Sumitomo Corporation - Installation of foreign-made megawatt-class PEM water electrolysis equipment for Japan's first hydrogen production demonstration experiment

Sumitomo Corporation (President: Masayuki Hyodo, hereinafter 'Sumitomo Corporation') and Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (President: Shinichi Sasayama, hereinafter 'Tokyo Gas') are conducting a joint demonstration experiment (hereinafter 'this demonstration') for the utilization of hydrogen. ), ITM Power PLC (hereinafter 'ITM') has developed a megawatt-class solid polymer (PEM) type (1) water electrolysis device (hereinafter 'the device'). was installed inside Tokyo Gas Yokohama Techno Station.

This is the first operational verification in Japan using a megawatt-class PEM water electrolyzer made overseas.

Hydrogen can contribute to carbon neutrality in a variety of ways, such as decarbonizing heat utilization, producing e-methane (2) (hereinafter referred to as 'e-methane'), and making power sources zero-emissions, but it also reduces production costs. The high level of energy consumption poses a challenge in terms of utilization. In particular, in order to realize clean hydrogen production using water electrolysis systems, it is essential to procure inexpensive renewable energy and significantly reduce the cost of water electrolysis systems, and efforts are being made to increase the size and pressure of equipment, especially in Europe. Ta.

Since Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Gas agreed to carry out this demonstration in 2021 (3), they have been preparing for the installation of this equipment in accordance with domestic laws and regulations. ITM has now completed manufacturing the equipment in compliance with Japanese regulations, and after transporting it by sea from the UK to Japan, it has been installed at Tokyo Gas Yokohama Techno Station. ITM is one of the leading manufacturers of PEM water electrolyzers in terms of large-scale equipment and mass production. This equipment 'NEPTUNE' has achieved a significant reduction in operating costs compared to the general water electrolysis equipment currently in use.

We plan to carry out the construction and trial runs necessary for operational verification, and begin the actual demonstration in June 2024. In this demonstration, we will conduct verification in various operation modes, evaluate the performance of this device, acquire operating know-how for megawatt-class PEM type water electrolyzer, and know-how for cooperative operation with renewable energy power sources, methanation devices, and hydrogen utilization equipment. We aim to obtain

In addition, we plan to utilize the hydrogen produced by this device in Tokyo Gas' ongoing demonstration of e-methane production (4).

Sumitomo Corporation's initiatives related to hydrogen utilization

Sumitomo Corporation has been developing businesses to promote the production and use of clean hydrogen in Japan and overseas, and water electrolysis equipment is a key technology in the hydrogen production projects that Sumitomo Corporation is promoting in Australia, Malaysia, Chile, and other countries. is. Through this demonstration, we will deepen our knowledge of the operation of water electrolysis technology and utilize it in the development of future commercialization projects.

Initiatives related to hydrogen utilization by Tokyo Gas

Tokyo Gas is accelerating the development of various technologies to achieve carbon neutrality, in line with the 'challenge to achieve net zero CO2' as set forth in the group management vision 'Compass 2030.' Hydrogen is the raw material for e-methane, and water electrolysis equipment is an important technology for implementing e-methane in society. Through this demonstration, we will acquire know-how on the operation of megawatt-class PEM type water electrolysis equipment and cooperation with methanation equipment, etc., and will utilize this knowledge for future social implementation.