Hayate NAKATSUJI

Abstract

Japanese energy self-sufficiency rate is 6.4% in 2016. If there will be less fossil fuel imported from other countries, we won’t be able to get energy. To change energy source more quickly than the other countries is inevitable for Japan. In order to know the government plan for an alternative source, I had an interview to Shiga prefectural government personnel. I found that they have a plan to change energy sources, but they are not confident in using hydrogen. On the other hand, private companies are working on it. However, they don't have confidence in hydrogen society. There is a dilemma. In conclusion, my study shows that private companies may have a potential in changing energy sources. Private companies should take a leading role in realizing the hydrogen society.

About me

My name is Hayate Nakatsuji. I'm student of Ritsumeikan University. My hobbies are watching foreign drama and playing tennis. Especially, I often watch "The Walking Dead" and "The BIG BANG THEORY". These are my recommendations so please watch them in hulu. By the way, I'm interested in renewable energy. When I watched "Back to the future 2", Dr. Emmett passed time by using banana and Juice.

Interview to Panasonic (Private company)

I thought Panasonic's project was a microcosm of hydrogen society. I'd like to know that do they have confidence in hydrogen society. To make sure this, I had interview to Panasonic. Then, I found that they don't have confidence in hydrogen but they have to make efforts to achieve goals for sustainable world.

Also Japanese government have plan to reduce 80% CO2 by 2050. They have to make big action to achieve these goal. Then, I asked that hydrogen society will come. They answered it is very difficult without more support from Japan. If we they work on this by themselves, hydrogen society won't come. The only way is to take action with people who live in all over the world.

What do we need for Hydrogen society?

To make hydrogen society, we have to develop technology. There are some technology which expected for this. Artificial photosynthesis is one of them. We can obtain hydrogen from water in one step. This is the big difference between solar power and artificial photosynthesis. Also, we may be able to obtain synthesis gas from CO2 and water. We have to make action for hydrogen society.

I was very surprised at this. In "Back to the future 1" he used plutonium to pass time. Then I thought that energy is interesting. I grew up and saw real world energy problem. We should make new system which get energy from sun, wind, river and so on. I'd like to make sustainable world.

What is Hydrogen society?

Hydrogen society is the system which we use energy in our life. Now, fossil fuel is our main energy resource so It might called "Carbon society". We get energy as electricity by telegraph pole. However, we don't need telegraph anymore in Hydrogen society. It's because each house has individual resource like Ene farm.

There are 3 benefits of using hydrogen. These are it is possible to accumulate, it can be carried, it can be used at any time. We can get hydrogen from factory even if it is cloudy or rainy.

Interview to Japanese government

Japan's renewable energy self-sufficiency rate is 6.4 % in 2016. I'm very afraid of that because if there is less fossil fuel, there is no guarantee that foreign countries export them. I thought Japan needs to respond more quickly than other countries. To ask plan, I went to Shiga prefectual government. Then I found that they have plan to introduce hydrogen from renewable energy. However, the amounts are not enough to cover all consumption energy.

but they told me that private company are taking action for hydrogen society. For example, Panasonic will make CO2 free factory and Kawasaki will develop CCS and marine transportation. I thought that private companies should lead Japan.