NEW DEVELOPMENT OF INTRODUCING BIOGASFICATION AT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS FOR PROMOTING HYDROGEN STATIONS

Abstract

 In recent years, electricity and heat utilization by using hydrogen is concerned from the perspective of stable energy supply. Particularly, hydrogen can be used as the fuel of fuel cell vehicles (FCV), and thus can be in support of the power supply when disasters occur. Therefore, the development of hydrogen stations for supplying FCVs is promising. In this study, the introduction of hydrogen stations at a sewage treatment facility was evaluated regarding the production/supply of biogas and the financial feasibility. Consequently, the hydrogen made from the sewage treatment facility can satisfy the annual mileage for 800 FCVs, equivalent to the 3,000 persons' daily electricity demand during disaster period. Therefore, the project is highly practicable from the perspective of stable energy supply. However, the present scenario is not financial feasible. Therefore, it is important to reduce the cost by developing low-cost technologies or implementing financial subsidy policies. The business can be applied to the other area in Japan given that the aforementioned problems are improved.