Denso has launched a new pilot program at its Nishio Plant in Japan as part of its ongoing efforts to completely eradicate CO2 emissions from its facilities.
For several years, Denso has been focusing on the maximization of its Two Great Causes: Green and Peace of Mind. These principles are embedded within the company’s long-term policy for 2030, which is guided by the philosophy of “Bringing hope for the future for our planet, society, and all people”. The company’s green initiatives have been centered on three main domains: manufacturing, mobility products, and energy use. The recently unveiled pilot program represents a critical step forward in the company’s energy use strategies.
The energy management system being piloted is comprised of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) developed by Denso, a storage battery for electricity transmission, and a Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) system. This innovative setup, which also includes solar panels, has been installed in the Nishio Plant’s “Pocket Park”. The SOFC is a hydrogen-fueled device that can consistently generate electricity irrespective of weather conditions, unlike solar power.
The SOFC developed by Denso is specially designed to deliver an impressive power generation efficiency of 65%, which is considered to be the highest globally. The company leveraged its expertise in thermal management and fuel recycling technologies for this innovation.
The Nishio plant will employ this equipment for a demonstration aimed at improving energy management. The plan is to charge and discharge batteries and control SOFC power generation based on factory power demand. Initially, the plant will use city gas for this operation, with plans to explore the mixed use of carbon-neutral gases, such as hydrogen, along with natural gas. The learnings from this demonstration will be valuable for future carbon-neutral activities at Denso Fukushima Corporation.
As Denso continues to explore and implement environmentally-friendly technologies, it aims to provide solutions that are applicable beyond its own operations. These solutions can potentially be adopted by other manufacturing industries and societal infrastructures, thereby supporting broader efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. This project underlines the company’s commitment to developing sustainable technologies and contributing to carbon neutrality across various sectors.
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