Advanced technology of "hydrogen" Chased in Israel November 28, 16:57
Hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide when burned.
It is attracting attention as a promising energy source for the next generation, but it has the problem of high production costs.
The world, including Japan, is now working to overcome this issue.
Under these circumstances, I heard that there was a company in Israel that had developed an epoch-making technology, so I went to interview it.
It is the forefront of hydrogen development in Middle East Israel.
(Jerusalem Bureau Chief Taichi Soga)
Hydrogen is the key to decarbonization
Middle East Israel with a population of 9.3 million.
Although the image of conflict such as tension with Palestine is attached, in fact, it is one of the countries with the largest number of start-up companies per million population in the world, and is also known as a country of innovation.
There are many companies that excel in AI and cyber technology.
After hearing that there was a company in Israel that had cutting-edge hydrogen technology, I visited the Caesarea research base in northern Israel.
I met Marco Talmon, CEO of H2Pro, a start-up company that develops hydrogen production technology.
After graduating from Tel Aviv University, a prestigious Israeli university, he turned to the world of business as head of the intelligence department of the Israel Defense Forces, which has produced many entrepreneurs.
He has launched successful IT companies one after another, such as Viber, which develops a free call application, and an Israeli version of a ride-hailing service company.
Mr. Marco founded this hydrogen production technology company in 2019.
He says that he started a business in a completely different field from the software-centered business he had been doing until now, because he realized the great potential of hydrogen for a decarbonized society.
Marco Talmon, CEO, H2Pro
“I thought it was important to make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren. The first is hydrogen.Hydrogen is like a ``universal knife'' that can help decarbonize various sectors such as aviation, steel, transportation, etc.We need hydrogen to solve climate change, The challenge is how to lower the price."
What is the secret to lowering manufacturing costs?
Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide when burned.
There are methods of extracting hydrogen from natural gas, etc., and methods of producing it by electrolyzing water. Among them, electrolysis using renewable energy does not emit carbon dioxide during production, so it is cleaner. can be manufactured.
However, the high cost is a problem.
In electrolysis, two electrodes are placed in water and electricity is passed through each to generate hydrogen and oxygen.
However, since hydrogen and oxygen are generated at the same time, there is a risk of explosion due to a chemical reaction when mixed.
For this reason, it is necessary to install an isolation membrane between them, which is a factor that increases the equipment cost.
In order to reduce this cost, Mr. Marco's company has developed a special electrode made of nickel.
By performing electrolysis with a combination of ordinary electrodes and this special electrode, we succeeded in shifting the timing of the generation of hydrogen and oxygen.
First, a normal electrode is used to generate and recover only hydrogen, and then a special electrode is used to delay and extract oxygen.
Since hydrogen and oxygen are generated separately, there is no need to install an isolation membrane, and the efficiency of electrolysis is improved, which can reduce both capital investment and operating costs, resulting in a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. I think it is possible.
Cheap green hydrogen and active investment
If this method is used and the electricity used for electrolysis is renewable energy, no carbon dioxide is generated during the manufacturing process.
Such clean hydrogen is called "green hydrogen" and is said to have the lowest environmental impact.
・Green hydrogen: Manufactured using renewable energy, etc.
・Blue hydrogen: Manufactured using fossil fuels while reducing carbon dioxide emissions
・Gray hydrogen: Manufactured using fossil fuels as a base
However, the current production cost of "green hydrogen" is relatively high at $5 to $10 per kilogram.
The company aims to use low-cost manufacturing technology to produce hydrogen for $1 per kilogram by 2030.
Marco Talmon, CEO:
"'One dollar per kilo' seems to be the ultimate goal of 'green hydrogen' production, but if this is achieved, hydrogen can be used for many things. The sooner we can do that, the sooner we can match existing energy sources and accelerate the transition to a global green economy.”
There is a great deal of interest in this hydrogen production technology from around the world.
The startup has so far received a total of $100 million in funding from Microsoft founder Bill Gates' funds and Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corporation.
An executive at Sumitomo Corporation's venture capital, which invested in the project, points out that countries and companies are becoming more serious about promoting the use of hydrogen, and that "cheap hydrogen" is becoming a reality.
Sumitomo Corporation VC Eyal Rosner said,
"Everyone understands that countries around the world need to transition to decarbonization and that hydrogen is one of the best solutions. , New start-up companies are born one after another.The hydrogen market is already large, but it will grow further as costs become cheaper due to technological innovation.Now is the time to get serious about the hydrogen business as awareness of sustainability is increasing. I think it's time to work on it."
Moves in anticipation of commercialization
In anticipation of the spread of hydrogen, there is also a company in Israel that is embarking on the development of a new engine.
The start-up company "Aquarius Engines" is developing a "hydrogen engine" that uses hydrogen instead of gasoline as fuel.
A gasoline engine requires many parts, but the engine developed by this company consists of only about 20 parts and weighs about 10 kilograms, making it light and compact.
Moreover, it is attracting attention that it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions because it uses hydrogen instead of gasoline for power.
When you think of a car that uses hydrogen, you think of a fuel cell car, but hydrogen-powered cars have the advantage of being able to use existing systems in many areas, and the cost is low.
Among Japanese automakers, Toyota is also developing.
Although there are no completed automobile manufacturers in Israel, amid growing interest in the development of automobiles that use hydrogen, foreign automobile-related manufacturers and others are investing in this company one after another.
One of them is TPR, a major auto parts manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo.
We have a global share in the manufacture of gasoline engine parts such as piston rings.
However, as the shift to EVs (electric vehicles) progressed, we had a sense of crisis that our business might be tapering off.
Nevertheless, if hydrogen becomes a common fuel for engines in the near future, we believe that it will be an opportunity to make use of our technology. .
TPR Executive Officer Hideki Tsukamoto
“We are considering the possibility of expanding our business from the conventional business model of selling individual parts to the area of engine development itself. Among the items that can be
Fierce competition in hydrogen: What does Japan need to win?
Japan was among the first to focus on hydrogen development, and in 2017 the Japanese government came up with a national strategy for hydrogen ahead of the rest of the world.
Recently, however, the competition has intensified, with Western countries actively supporting the spread of hydrogen, and Africa and the Middle East, which are rich in renewable energy, are raising their hands to attract manufacturing bases.
Experts say that in order for Japan to lead the world in hydrogen, it is more important not only to establish hydrogen production technology, but also to "link from upstream to downstream" from the supply side to the demand side that uses hydrogen. I point out that it will become
Eiji Ohira, Strategy Architect, NEDO
“Even if only the manufacturers that produce hydrogen do their best, it will not spread. There is a noticeable movement to scale up downstream as a set.In the future, the key words will be 'integration' and 'coordination' from upstream to downstream."
After covering the front line of hydrogen development in Israel, I felt that the hydrogen age is coming sooner than I thought.
Technology is evolving day by day, and new businesses are about to start one after another.
In order for Japan to keep up with the global trend, I think it is important for society as a whole to come together and have the awareness of realizing "carbon neutrality" using hydrogen.
Taichi Soga ,
Head of Jerusalem Bureau
Joined in 2012.
Current position since 2020 after working in the Asahikawa Bureau and the International Department.