Taking on Challenges Focused on Realizing a Hydrogen Energy-based Society: Murata Manufacturing Begins a Hydrogen Demonstration Experiment at Yasu Plant

Murata Manufacturing (hereinafter "Murata") has begun an initiative on the premises of Yasu Plant (Shiga Prefecture), our group's largest research and development (R&D) base, toward energy circulation that takes environmental impact into account. This initiative involves generating hydrogen and then using it in the plant's air conditioning. The water electrolysis device that produces the hydrogen is powered by solar energy. We utilize our own integrated renewable energy control solution efinnos to control the overall system. We spoke to the people in charge of this project about the aims, aspirations, and other aspects of this forward-looking initiative.

"It is extremely important to generate hydrogen at our own facilities and to accumulate know-how on costs and maintenance through hands-on operation, in preparation for the widespread adoption of hydrogen in the future." This is what Mukai of the Corporate Technology & Business Development Unit had to say about one of the aims of this initiative.
Murata has now begun a demonstration experiment at Yasu Plant, our largest research and development base, to generate hydrogen, power a boiler with that hydrogen, and then use it for the air conditioning and other equipment in the buildings of the plant.

One of the key points of this initiative is that we have installed a water electrolysis device to generate hydrogen in-house, and are procuring the electric power to operate it from solar power generation. Using renewable energy means that we produce green hydrogen that does not emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) even during the generation process.

"Facility departments that handle infrastructure and other aspects of plants are generally very cautious. However, Yasu Plant wants to play a role as a proactive facility. It is looking to engage with various technologies and then roll out the results of those efforts throughout Murata." This is the reason Kamino in the Administration Department at Yasu Plant gives as to why the plant is proceeding with initiative.

Murata has been working to reduce GHGs from generating power in our plants through methods such as solar power generation. Nevertheless, in striving to achieve the international RE100 initiative that aims to source 100% of the electric power used in business activities from renewable energy, it became necessary to take on the challenge of using new technologies in addition to existing technologies. The enthusiasm of the Yasu Plant under these circumstances became the driving force behind promoting this initiative.

Incorporating Murata's own integrated renewable energy control solution efinnos is an essential element for effectively advancing the initiative to utilize hydrogen. It is provided as an energy management system that realizes optimal control of solar power generation and battery storage.

efinnos has been adopted in the demonstration experiment to utilize hydrogen at Yasu Plant, where it is used for purposes such as controlling the amount of hydrogen generated according to the amount stored in the hydrogen tank. Jinno stated, "Although we purchased the water electrolysis device that produces the hydrogen from another company, incorporating it in our own system and optimizing its control is something that is distinctive of Murata's way of working."

In the future, we also want to implement functions in efinnos that will lead to more optimal hydrogen management by carrying out analysis that takes into account the status of solar power generation, grid electricity rates, and hydrogen demand in the plant as well.

Murata is promoting an initiative to turn our own factories into showcases. Our aim with this initiative is to create business opportunities by introducing Murata's own products into our factories and then allowing our customers to see, touch, and experience them. efinnos has already been introduced at five Murata factories, including Kanazu Murata Manufacturing (Fukui Prefecture) and Hakui Murata Manufacturing (Ishikawa Prefecture). This has supported the adoption of renewable energy by combining solar power generation and storage batteries.
Mukai emphasized that, "efinnos has enabled optimal electric power control tailored to the natural environment in each location and the conditions of each plant. Going forward, we would also like to utilize efinnos for hydrogen to accumulate the knowledge required to reduce Scope 1 emissions and to prepare for the arrival of a hydrogen energy-based society. We want to accelerate social implementation together with partners who share our desire to realize a hydrogen energy-based society."

In 2024, Murata announced that we would be bringing forward our timeline for achieving the aforementioned RE100. We are now looking to achieve the target of sourcing 100% of the electric power we use in our business activities from renewable energy by FY2035. That is 15 years ahead of the target of FY2050 we set when we first joined RE100.