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Toshiba to accelerate development of pure hydrogen fuel cell module for vessels and railroad vehicles

Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS) announced today that it has signed an agreement with New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) on commissioned business for a multi-utility pure hydrogen fuel cell module for large modes of transport as a part of technology R&D programs for widespread implementation of fuel cells.
The project will develop a compact, lightweight and high-power 200kW class standard module*1 of pure hydrogen fuel cells, “H2RexTM-Mov”, for use by vessels, railroad vehicles, construction machinery and other large modes of transport, to be completed by the end of fiscal 2024.

As environmental awareness grows, there are increasing needs for pure hydrogen fuel cell systems that generate electric power which does not take out a contaminant and CO2 emissions. Pure hydrogen fuel cell systems developed for large modes of transport such as vessels, railroad vehicles and construction machinery require greater durability than those for cars and buses, which are already being developed and commercialized. Toshiba ESS is employing technologies from its stationary pure hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems to develop a high-power pure hydrogen fuel cell module for large modes of transport which offers greater durability and is more compact.
The module is also being designed for better response, consideration for environmental effects such as vibration, and for safety according to safety codes and standards.

Toshiba ESS has already been developing pure hydrogen fuel cell systems for large modes of transport, including a 30kW mobile pure hydrogen fuel cell system2 developed and supplied for field verification testing in 2019, and began work on a demonstration3 for the commercialization of vessels equipped with high-power fuel cells in September 2020. Toshiba ESS will supply the hydrogen fuel cell module from this NEDO project for the fuel cell demonstration vessel.

Yoshihisa Sanagi, General Manager of the Hydrogen Energy Business Div. at Toshiba ESS, said, “We are dedicated to developing pure hydrogen fuel cell systems for modes of transport, expanding hydrogen usage, and facilitating hydrogen energy implementation.””

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