Toyota Motor Corporation and the comprehensive chemical manufacturer Tokuyama have installed a stationary fuel cell generator utilizing the fuel cell system (FC system) mounted on the fuel cell vehicle (FCV) "Mirai" within Tokuyama's Tokuyama Manufacturing Complex in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. A demonstration experiment using byproduct hydrogen has commenced.

Tokuyama, a comprehensive chemical manufacturer with one of Japan's leading capacities for supplying high-purity byproduct hydrogen, has partnered with Toyota, which possesses technology cultivated through the development of the Mirai and other vehicles. They have launched a demonstration experiment to generate electricity using this byproduct hydrogen.

Tokuyama manufactures caustic soda in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, through the electrolysis of salt. By utilizing the FC system from the Mirai for the byproduct hydrogen generated in this process, they aim to achieve a hydrogen society by generating electricity affordably and with high performance.

The FC power generator introduced this time is based on a 100kW rated output FC power generator that has been undergoing demonstration experiments at Toyota's headquarters plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, since September 2019. Toyota and Toyota Energy Solutions jointly developed this unit, modifying it to a rated output of 50kW and improving maintainability through component revisions and other enhancements.

The electricity generated by the FC power generator is supplied within Tokuyama's Tokuyama Manufacturing Complex. Meanwhile, Toyota will verify and evaluate aspects such as energy efficiency per unit of hydrogen consumed, power output stability, durability, maintainability, and the impact of salt damage from sea breezes. Furthermore, they will assess the influence of utilizing byproduct hydrogen on power generation performance and calculate the economic feasibility compared to purchasing hydrogen externally.

Moving forward, Tokuyama plans to consider regional contribution initiatives utilizing byproduct hydrogen. Toyota will also continue research and development and explore business models to enhance product competitiveness, including expanding the output lineup, improving energy efficiency and durability, achieving greater compactness, and reducing costs, to promote the adoption of FC power generators.