A Japanese research group is preparing to commercialize a system that generates hydrogen gas for fuel cells - known as bio-hydrogen - from sewage sludge. The Japan Blue Energy Company (JBEC), along with partners Daiwa Lease Co Ltd, Toyota Tsucho Corp and Mitsui Chemicals, has been trialling the biomass-based technology since last year.
Verification tests for JBEC’s Blue Tower technology are currently underway, and the next step is planning for commercialization in a commerical scale plant. The research group is working on plant design, logistics, licensing and distribution of the bio-hydrogen for use in fuel cell cars and fuel cell generators.
Fuel cell proponents have been hailing the energy storage potential of the technology for decades, but the need for large volumes of hydrogen gas have meant relying primarily on fossil fuels as a source of hydrogen.
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