Current Status of National SOFC Projects in Japan

The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has been conducting development and demonstrative research projects relating to the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), as it is one of the most important and promising technologies for CO2 reduction and realizing dispersed power sources. One of NEDO's achievements was the world's first commercialization of an SOFC-based combined heat and power (CHP) system called ENE-FARM type S in 2011. In June 2014, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) formulated its Strategic Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. In accordance with the road map, it was planned to release fuel cells for commercial and industrial use onto the market in 2017 as one of the processes for expanding the use of fuel cell technology. NEDO's activities, including its Technology Development for Promotion of Practical Applications of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells project, and recent trends in the SOFC field, are overviewed here.