Expanding the possibilities of energy. Using affordable and safe power, electricity, and heat, whenever necessary and only as much as necessary.
- Reducing GHG emissions
- Promoting renewable energy
- Energy efficiency initiatives
- Utilizing untapped energy
YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the Japanese government has formulated the “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050” and the shipping industry is positioned as one of the 14 fields that are expected to grow. The plan expected the promotion of hydrogen fuel cell systems for short-range and small-sized ships, and the launch of a zero-emission ship demonstration project by 2025.
Regarding these backgrounds, to reduce CO2 emissions from domestic shipping, which accounts for 5% of CO2 emissions from the transportation sector in Japan, to zero, the Nippon Foundation focused on the development of hydrogen-fueled zero-emission ships and provided support to a consortium engaged in the technological development of hydrogen fuel cell offshore wind-turbine workboats.
The powertrain of the workboat is powered by an electric propulsion system, and the consortium was looking for a provider who could oversee the entire system. Yanmar Power Technology has the most proven track record in the field of marine fuel cells and electric propulsion systems in Japan, and has responded to the request for technical cooperation from the consortium.
A demonstration experiment* of zero-emission operation using the hydrogen fuel cell offshore wind turbine "HANARIA" was conducted at Kokura Port in Kitakyushu City from March to April 2024. The marine hydrogen fuel cell system installed on the vessel was developed by Yanmar Power Technology using the fuel cell unit used in the Toyota fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) “MIRAI”.
The HANARIA is 33 meters long, 238 tons gross, and has a capacity of 100 passengers. It is equipped with an electric propulsion system integrated by Yanmar Power Technology, including two hydrogen fuel cells, storage batteries, biodiesel power generation engines, power control, propulsion equipment, and remote monitoring. The adoption of Yanmar's electric propulsion system enables optimal energy management on board the ship, including a zero-emission mode in which only hydrogen fuel cells and storage batteries are used, and a hybrid mode in which five hydrogen fuel cells, storage batteries and biodiesel power generation engines are operated in parallel. In particular, the vessel is operated only with a hydrogen fuel cell system and storage batteries which achieves zero emissions, significantly reducing vibration and noise from the power source, and provides a comfortable onboard environment without the smell of exhaust gas.
In the demonstration experiment conducted between Kokura Port and the Shiroshima offshore wind power plant, the vessel operated in zero-emission mode using hydrogen fuel for a distance of 30 km round trip from departure to arrival, and carried out a zero-emission cruise that emits no CO2 for approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. In order to spread the use of hydrogen fuel cell vessels, it is necessary to establish international standards for marine hydrogen fuel cell systems and build a hydrogen supply system at ports. We continue to work to achieve carbon neutrality in cooperation with necessary fields.
YANMAR ENERGY SYSTEM CO., LTD.
In rice production, the processing of rice husks that are generated in large quantities every year during the rice threshing process after harvesting has become an issue. The field burning of rice husks, which used to be common in Japan, is now prohibited, and the approximately 2 million tons of rice husks generated annually in Japan are partially burned or used for compost, but they are not fully utilized. In order to realize a decarbonized society, it is also being considered to contribute to the carbon negative, and there is a need for solutions in both the effective utilization of rice husks and decarbonization.
No change in atmospheric CO2. Even if the carbon contained in rice husks is released into the atmosphere through combustion, the same amount of carbon is absorbed through photosynthesis in new rice plants.
CO2 in the atmosphere reduces. Processing 400 tons of rice husks per year per unit can fix the equivalent of 117 tons of CO2 (fixing approximately 20% of the carbon contained in rice husks).
Country elevators (a type of grain storage facility), rice centers, etc.
Since 2019, Yanmar Energy System has been developing a rice husk biochar production system focusing on the biochar production area, which had been demonstrated with a rice husk gasification power generation system. In order to achieve full-scale commercialization, Yanmar Energy System began a demonstration test of this system in October 2023. With the cooperation of Nishisaka Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. Imazu Sales Office in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, the two companies will conduct demonstration tests with the aim of commercializing the product by the end of fiscal 2024.
This system achieves clean exhaust emissions without odors or smoke through high-temperature combustion, and the produced biochar is more porous than ordinary biochar and can adsorb various substances through high-temperature treatment. When 400 tons of rice husks are processed per year, biochar can be produced that can fix 117 tons of carbon (CO2 equivalent). By applying this to agricultural land, it can contribute to achieving carbon negativity. In addition, after the rice husk is set on fire by an electric heater without using any fossil fuels, the fuel inside of the furnace can be maintained at a high temperature of 800 to 1000°C using only the energy of the rice husk.
This demonstration test aims to establish technologies for decarbonization in the agricultural sector through recycling-oriented agriculture utilizing unused resources (rice husks) and carbon fixation by soil application of biochar. We will also study the use of waste heat generated during the combustion of rice husks. We aim to establish environmental and economic benefits for customers through the introduction of the equipment, such as reducing rice husk processing costs, expanding the use of generated biochar, and monetizing using carbon credits.
In addition, in order to pursue the future potential of biochar, we are participating in the Green Innovation Fund project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a National Research and Development Agency, and are working with consortium companies on the research and development of a manufacturing technology for "high-performance biochar" with the function of useful microorganisms that show effects such as suppressing soil disease bacteria.
Rice husk biochar produced 100 tons/year
(Carbon fixed amount *117t - CO2/year)