Energy

Hitachi Zosen has developed a solid-state battery boasting one of the industry's highest capacities and tolerance for a wide range of temperatures, making it a candidate for use in satellites and industrial machinery.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry struck the first fuel ammonia cooperation deal with state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. as Tokyo intends to develop its supply chain of blue ammonia possibly in the Middle East by the late 2020s.

With Japan committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s administration is grappling with key questions over which near-term measures to take in order to reach the long-term goal.

The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has formulated a plan to build a small-scale test and research reactor at the site of the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, where decommissioning work is currently underway, according to news sources.

As part of efforts to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the Japanese government is considering securing “energy forests” for the specific purpose of growing sources for woody biomass power generation, officials have said.

Japan’s Environment Ministry in cooperation with automakers will begin test development in fiscal 2021 on electric trucks used in logistics operations for convenience stores and other businesses as part an effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

A team of researchers from Kyoto University and Toyota Motor is making solid progress developing next-generation battery technology that has the potential to cram far more energy into a small, lightweight package than today's standard lithium-ion, or li-ion, batteries.

Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four main islands, has seen the launch of a string of offshore wind farm projects, as fishing communities hit by declining catches look for other ways to earn a livelihood.

Trading houses Marubeni, Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsui & Co. will build a liquefied natural gas-fired power plant in Myanmar, one of the biggest investments by Japanese companies in the Southeast Asian country, people familiar with the matter say.

Toshiba is set to roll out a hydrogen-powered fuel cell system capable of generating enough electricity to power 1,000 homes, or an entire factory or hospital in a boost to a government push of the zero-emission energy source.