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The utilization of hydrogen energy is important for achieving a low-carbon society. Japan has set ambitious goals for hydrogen stations and fuel cell vehicles, focusing on the introduction and dissemination of self-refueling systems. This paper evaluates public trust in the fuel, equipment, and self-handling technology related to self-refueling hydrogen stations and compares it with that for widespread gasoline stations. To this end, the results of an online survey of 300 people with Japanese driver licenses are reported and analyzed. The results show that trust in the equipment and self-handling is more important for the user than trust in the fuel. In addition, to introduce and disseminate new technology such as hydrogen stations, users must be made aware of the risk of using the technology until it becomes as familiar as existing gasoline station technology. • We surveyed user's trust in various aspects of hydrogen self-refueling stations. • Users were concerned about the complexity of gasoline and hydrogen dispensers. • Positive and negative opinions of hydrogen self-refueling technology were indicated. • Positive people may accept new technologies despite the risks. • Familiarity with technology is an important factor for improving acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology learning rates can be dynamic quantities as a technology moves from early development to piloting and from low volume manufacturing to high volume manufacturing. This work describes a generalizable technology analysis approach for disaggregating observed technology cost reductions and presents results of this approach for one specific case study (micro-combined heat and power fuel cell systems in Japan). We build upon earlier reports that combine discussion of fuel cell experience curves and qualitative discussion of cost components by providing greater detail on the contributing mechanisms to observed cost reductions, which were not quantified in earlier reports. Greater standardization is added to the analysis approach, which can be applied to other technologies. This paper thus provides a key linkage that has been missing from earlier literature on energy-related technologies by integrating the output of earlier manufacturing cost studies with observed learning rates to quantitatively estimate the different components of cost reduction including economies of scale and cost reductions due to product performance and product design improvements. This work also provides updated fuel cell technology price versus volume trends from the California Self-Generation Incentive Program, including extensive data for solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) reported here for the first time. The Japanese micro-CHP market is found to have a learning rate of 18% from 2005 to 2015, while larger SOFC fuel cell systems (200 kW and above) in the California market are found to have a flat (near-zero) learning rate, and these are attributed to a combination of exogenous, market, and policy factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan may be the least likely country to start a revolution, but its new energy policy, if implemented successfully, will revolutionize Japan’s economy, society, and energy infrastructure. The new energy policy calls for the creation of a “hydrogen society” in which citizens will use hydrogen as their primary energy source. Hydrogen fuel would be produced from renewable sources and used to generate electricity at home and to power vehicles via fuel cells. The policy came into force in April 2015 and will guide Japan’s energy development for the next 25 years and perhaps beyond. The new policy is a determined response to the twin disasters faced on March 11, 2011, when Japan was struck by a Magnitude 9 earthquake and then a catastrophic tsunami, which devastated Japan’s economy, energy security, and environmental well-being. The new energy policy would substantially reduce Japan’s dependence on nuclear power as well as oil and gas-fired thermal power plants and would greatly strengthen the development of fuel cell systems that use hydrogen. Implemented in three broad phases over several decades, the policy would promote the development of fuel cells that are less costly, more efficient, and more durable, and it would develop hydrogen production, storage, and transport as well as fueling systems to support the widespread use of fuel cells. Over the long term, the hydrogen society could be integrated into Japan’s concept of a “smart community” that uses digital technologies and information and communication technologies to more efficiently generate and regulate the use of power. This paper examines how Japan laid the policy and legal framework in the 1990s to promote fuel cell and hydrogen development, compares Japan’s investment and policy strategies to those in the United States and the European Union, identifies the challenges Japan will face in broadly establishing a hydrogen society, assesses the potential economic benefits it might enjoy if the hydrogen society policy succeeds, and recommends that the new energy policy be more fully integrated with other initiatives to promote economic growth, more efficient communities, and a cleaner environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: After the Fukushima nuclear plant accident, Japan is facing an unprecedented situation with its energy supply. This paper provides an overview of Japan’s current energy landscape with descriptions of the kinds and production of energy. Since it is inevitable that the use of nuclear energy will decrease, we shall propose a best mix of electric sources of the large-scale and centralized network as well as the decentralized network as an alternative. The hub for this proposal is regional power centers (RPC) to control the electric supply as well as fuel transportation and storage on an area-by-area basis. As technologies that will realize this power center, we will discuss fuel cells, hydrogen production and storage and furthermore, the potential of CCS, which is requisite technology for carbon dioxide emissions reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• We examine the preferences of Japanese citizens for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. • We use multinomial, nested, and mixed logit models on SP discrete choice data. • Non-financial incentives, vehicle attributes, and socio-demographic characteristics are crucial. After the successful adoption and deployment of electric vehicles in Norway with the support of generous government-led incentives, several other countries began introducing policy incentives for environmental-friendly vehicles. In light of Japan's goal of becoming a hydrogen society, this paper examines the preferences of Japanese citizens for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) through a stated preference discrete choice experiment involving carefully chosen vehicle attributes and incentives. To this end, it uses mixed logit model on the choice scenario data to elicit the behavioral responses. Governmental incentives such as free public parking and free public transport significantly impact the preferences for HFCVs. In terms of socio-demographic characteristics, education and apartment parking remarkably affect the adoption of HFCVs. Although the preference of Japanese consumers for HFCVs is significantly lower than that for conventional vehicles, a well-designed package of policy incentives involving free public parking and public transport can drive Japan's push for HFCVs in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The energy saving potential of the FCV2G system was analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation. • The maximum economic benefit of the FCV2G system in target case was found through genetic algorithms. • The economics of EV and FCV participating in V2G services was compared. • The future economic benefits of the FCV2G system were predicted through the sensitivity analysis. The popularization of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCV) is an important measure for solving the global carbon emission reduction problem. However, the overall cost of FCV and the production cost of fuel hydrogen are relatively high, so FCV promotion is slow. Considering that FCV has the characteristics of near-zero carbon emission and high endurance, which is suitable for the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system, this paper hoped to provide a boost for the promotion of FCV by analyzing the economic potential of the FCV2G system. Firstly, a large-scale commercial building in Japan was selected as the research target and the agent of vehicles to provide a V2G service for the power grid. Then the Monte Carlo simulation method was used to simulate the visiting time and condition of the vehicles. Secondly, the discharge model was established. Combined with the carbon emission price and self-elasticity coefficient of the discharge price, the overall economic optimization model was established. Then, the genetic algorithm was used to optimize the model. With continuous importing of FCVs, the overall economic benefit was improved. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out on the six parameters of daily electricity price, battery cost, fuel cell cost, carbon emission price, power grid carbon emission and hydrogen cost. It was concluded that FCV2G has good economic benefits and high development potential, and the economic benefits of FCV2G will continue to increase with the passage of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]