Japan pours funds into hydrogen fuel research

Post-Fukushima Japan continues to favor hydrogen fuel as a key alternative to nuclear energy.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry this week said the government has set aside US$240 million for the current fiscal year to fund hydrogen and fuel cell research. This amount is three times larger than what the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade requested for the 2013 fiscal year. It is also over double that of the USA’s.

The amount reflects Japan’s preference for hydrogen fuel cells that became more marked after the March 2011 catastrophe. Power provided by fuel cells at the ENE-FARM replaced most of the electricity lost when Japan’s nuclear plants went offline after the earthquake and tsunami.

Japan currently has the highest funding for hydrogen energy research and development in the world. The new investment will fund the development of new hydrogen energy systems and fuel cell technology.