Results of WE-NET Phase I Research and Development and Phase II Plan

摘要

The Kyoto Protocol determined at COP3 in Dec 1997 is forcing Japan to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 6% in the year 2008-2012 compared to 1990 level. Concern with potential global climate change will become greater within the next decade, forcing society to move toward energies that will minimize the emission of greenhouse gases. Hydrogen energy is considered to present a potential effective option for achieving the greenhouse gas minimization. Japanese Govemment is promoting the WE-NET (World Energy Network) Project (Phase I : 199-1998, Phase II: 1999-2003) which envisions (1) construction of a global energy network for effective supply, transportation, storage and utilization of renewable energy using hydrogen as an energy carrier as a long-term option of sustainable energy economy, and (2) promotion of market entry of hydrogen energy in near and/or mid future even before construction of a WE-NET system. In this paper, the results of the Phase I research and development will be summarized and the Phase II program will be described, where an emphasis is put o the research and development of small-scale and distributed hydrogen utilization technologies such as fuel cell vehicle related technologies.