Hydrogen can be used as a next-generation energy source because it is a clean fuel, emitting only water during use, and can contribute to a carbon-free society by replacing fossil fuels in various applications, including power generation, heavy-duty transport, and other industries. Hydrogen acts as an energy carrier, storing and transporting energy produced from domestic renewable resources like solar and wind, thereby improving energy security and self-sufficiency. Therefore, hydrogen is referred to as a “green” energy source.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-024-04892-z; https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/12/why-hydrogen-is-the-fuel-of-the-sustainable-future/
The government of Yamanashi Prefecture has a plan to build a hydrogen energy society and becomes a global leader in green hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The technology focuses on the Yamanashi Model Power-to-Gas (P2G) System and establishes a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Valley to foster industry-academia-government collaboration. The strategy involves using solar power to produce hydrogen and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, developing a regional hydrogen value chain, and promoting research and development, human resource development, and business expansion both domestically and internationally.
Yamanashi Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry Support Desk Website; https://www.yiso.or.jp/yhfc/en/index.html#gsc.tab=0; Yamanashi Prefecture and JERA Promote Regional Hydrogen Utilization for a Carbon-Free Future!: https://www.jera.co.jp/en/action/discover/030; Suntory Announces “Suntory Green Hydrogen Vision”: https://www.suntory.com/news/article/14825E.html
UCC UESHIMA COFFEE CO., LTD started developing hydrogen roasting in 2022. UCC Hydrogen-Roasted Coffee is a new product using a hydrogen-powered roaster for a carbon-neutral process, offering improved flavor complexity due to precise temperature control and unique flavor expression. Developed with the goal of decarbonizing coffee production, the technology enables the use of hydrogen as a clean energy source, potentially impacting the taste and sustainability of coffee. The company has invested in large-scale equipment and a hybrid roaster that can use both hydrogen and conventional fuels to gradually increase the hydrogen ratio, ensuring a stable transition to this green technology.
https://www.ucc.co.jp/eng/; https://www.ucc.co.jp/dist/downloads/ucc-sustainability-en.pdf; https://www.nedo.go.jp/content/100956603.pdf; https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15632425