In other news, John Cockerill Hydrogen unveiled France’s first 5 MW electrolyzer stack, while D3 Energy reported certified hydrogen and helium resources in Australia’s Arckaringa Basin with hydrogen concentrations of up to 11.5%. PowerCell, ECL, Air Liquide, and OMV announced new hydrogen projects spanning fuel cells for AI data centers, low-carbon hydrogen production, and a 140 MW electrolyzer facility, while researchers developed a low-temperature process to produce high-purity hydrogen from mixed plastic waste.
Tanaka announced it switched on Japan’s largest pure hydrogen fuel cell power generation facility at the company’s Shonan Plant in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The precious metal provider said the facility is equipped with Toshiba’s H2Rex pure hydrogen fuel cell system, comprising five interconnected 100 kW units with a combined rated output of 500 kW. According to the company, the system can supply approximately 34% of the electricity consumed by the nearby Shonan Plant when operating at full capacity. The fuel cell system has an overall efficiency of 95% based on the lower heating value (LHV) and a design durability of approximately 80,000 operating hours. It features a salt-resistant specification for use in coastal environments, including port areas, and supports independent operation during power outages. The system is also equipped with an energy management system (EMS) that provides load-following response speeds five times faster than conventional systems, according to the company. The facility delivers three-phase, three-wire AC power at 210/220 V. Each fuel cell unit measures 2.8 m in width, 2.0 m in depth, and 1.9 m in height. “Until now, Tanaka has contributed to the advancement of hydrogen technologies by developing precious metal-based materials. With the commencement of operations of this facility, we are now beginning to operate as a user of hydrogen energy ourselves. This will enable us to identify operational challenges under real-world operating conditions and share our findings,” the company said in a statement.
