Murata Launches Demonstration of Hydrogen Utilization at Yasu Division to Verify Optimal Operations with Proprietary Renewable Energy Control Solution efinnos

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Murata”) has launched a demonstration project at its Yasu Division (Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture) for the production of hydrogen using solar energy and its utilization. In this demonstration, electricity from a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system powers a water electrolyzer to produce hydrogen, which is then stored in an existing hydrogen tank. The hydrogen produced is used as fuel for a hydrogen boiler to supply air conditioning within the division.
The demonstration also incorporates Murata’s integrated renewable energy control solution efinnos, which optimizes hydrogen production based on the amount of hydrogen in storage. Through this initiative, Murata will verify the feasibility of operations that take both energy costs and environmental impact into account.

As efforts to create a decarbonized society drive broader adoption of renewable energy, a key challenge remains: Power generation is inherently dependent on weather conditions. Against this backdrop, hydrogen is attracting attention as a new energy source because it can be produced stably, is clean, and has a high energy density.
As a hydrogen society is anticipated to expand in the future, companies are expected to use hydrogen effectively to meet society’s demands for environmental responsibility while also growing their businesses.

With this in mind, Murata has begun a demonstration at its Yasu Division for the production of hydrogen powered by solar energy and its utilization.
In the demonstration, a PV system and a water electrolyzer have been installed on the rooftop of a building at the Yasu Division, and hydrogen is produced using solar-generated electricity. During periods when solar generation is not available, power from the grid is also used, allowing verification under conditions close to actual operation. The hydrogen produced is stored in the existing hydrogen tank and used as fuel for a hydrogen boiler. The hot water produced by the hydrogen boiler is then used for air conditioning within the division.

How the demonstration works

The demonstration also incorporates Murata’s proprietary integrated energy control solution efinnos to achieve optimal control of hydrogen production, storage, and utilization. To date, efinnos has optimized energy control at Murata’s plants in Japan by generating electricity from renewable sources, storing it in batteries, and using it as demand requires.
Although the demonstration focuses on hydrogen as a new form of energy, the control structure is essentially the same as that for electricity: producing when market prices for surplus solar power and power from the grid are low, storing according to tank capacity, and using at times of high demand. Therefore, Murata sees this as an area where efinnos can contribute. By demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach, Murata will develop it into a showcase model for the efficient utilization of hydrogen.

The thinking behind this initiative

Murata plans to operate this demonstration over several years to accumulate expertise in hydrogen utilization. Going forward, Murata will aim for efinnos to achieve optimization across a wide range of fields by providing integrated control of various forms of energy in addition to solar power and hydrogen.
Murata will continue to create a virtuous cycle of social and economic value through its proprietary technologies and the verification of new applications, working toward the realization of a sustainable society.

Learn more about efinnos here.
https://solution.murata.com/en-global/service/efinnos/