An overview of the fuel cell and hydrogen technology development policies in Japan

This paper describes the overview of technical developments and current policy on fuel cell and hydrogen technology in Japan. First, the outline of current policy programs is laid out. Secondly, it looks back upon technical development policies since the 1960s in Japan. Japanese policy developments are compared with those in other industrialized countries. Lastly, the discussions regarding the future course of technical development of the fuel cell and hydrogen are illustrated based on various opinions expressed at the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Symposium hosted by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).