According to the National Institute for Materials Science, the research group has developed an integrated system that adjusts the charge / discharge amount of storage batteries and the amount of hydrogen production in water electrolyzers according to the amount of power generated by photovoltaic power generation, and evaluated its economic efficiency.

　As a result of repeated studies, including future technological improvements, the international competition is high at 2030-1 yen per cubic meter by using inexpensive storage batteries that are thought to be practically available around 17. It turned out that powerful hydrogen production will be possible in Japan.

　The government has positioned renewable energy as one of its core power sources, but the unstable output and low output of renewable energy, such as the implementation of output control of solar and wind power generation within the Kyushu Electric Power jurisdiction from October to November. The annual occupancy rate has emerged as a major issue.

　As a countermeasure, the production of hydrogen from renewable energy and the system to store surplus electricity in a storage battery are being considered, but it is expected to lead to high cost.Based on this result, the research group will accelerate research toward social implementation such as the development of a photovoltaic power generation system that can be established even under output control.

Paper information:[International Journal of Hydrogen Energy] Battery-assisted low-cost hydrogen production from solar energy: Rational target setting for future technology systems