{"id":65019,"date":"2023-02-14T06:45:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-14T11:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=65019"},"modified":"2023-02-14T06:45:12","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T11:45:12","slug":"japan-tried-to-build-a-hydrogen-society-it-backfired-spectacularly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=65019","title":{"rendered":"Japan Tried to Build a Hydrogen Society. It Backfired Spectacularly."},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"css-xtzli5 exadjwu10\">\n<div class=\"css-1lr08az e12wtocy0\">\n<div class=\"css-mktybr exadjwu2\">\n<h3 class=\"css-1diu478 exadjwu8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.popularmechanics.com\/science\/green-tech\/a42665011\/japan-hydrogen-energy-failure\/\">Japan Tried to Build a Hydrogen Society. It Backfired Spectacularly.<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"css-f29fsr exadjwu6\">\n<p><strong>Seemed like a good idea at the time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"standard-container content-container article-container css-1nvx29v ewisyje3\">\n<div class=\"content-lead css-trzem2 ewisyje6\">\n<div class=\"content-lead-image css-3bou4y e5f9kgu2\">\n<div class=\"css-79elbk e5f9kgu1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-335qep exi4f7p0\" title=\"Hydrogen molecule\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/hydrogen-molecule-royalty-free-image-1674695801.jpg?resize=1200:*\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/hydrogen-molecule-royalty-free-image-1674695801.jpg?crop=0.66635xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/hydrogen-molecule-royalty-free-image-1674695801.jpg?crop=0.66635xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=980:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/hydrogen-molecule-royalty-free-image-1674695801.jpg?crop=0.66635xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=1120:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/hydrogen-molecule-royalty-free-image-1674695801.jpg?crop=0.66635xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=1200:* 1200w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/hydrogen-molecule-royalty-free-image-1674695801.jpg?resize=1200:* 1920w\" alt=\"hydrogen molecule\" width=\"2125\" height=\"1416\" data-nimg=\"future\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"css-1nhh0tp e6iqukd2\">Andriy Onufriyenko<\/span><span class=\"css-196z7bz e6iqukd0\">\/\/<\/span><span class=\"css-1nhh0tp e6iqukd1\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body-content article-body standard-body-content css-z6i669 ewisyje7\">\n<ul class=\"css-1rk79nl et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"0\">\n<li>Japan has long been a leader in\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-3wjtm9 et3p2gv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popularmechanics.com\/cars\/hybrid-electric\/a22688627\/hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.popularmechanics.com\/cars\/hybrid-electric\/a22688627\/hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"hydrogen\">hydrogen<\/a>\u00a0energy and fuel cell technology.<\/li>\n<li>Companies like Toyota plan to build entire cities entirely powered by hydrogen.<\/li>\n<li>A\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-3wjtm9 et3p2gv0\" href=\"https:\/\/newatlas.com\/energy\/japan-hydrogen-policy-failure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/newatlas.com\/energy\/japan-hydrogen-policy-failure\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"new report\">new report<\/a>\u00a0from an environmental think-tank argues that Japan is investing in the wrong applications for hydrogen technology and the determine of its decarbonization efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"css-18pb4rg et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"2\" \/>\n<p class=\"css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"3\">In the past couple decades, scientists and engineers have come up with lots of ways to rapidly decarbonize the planet\u2014but some ideas are better than others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"4\">Take, for instance, hydrogen. Thanks to the discovery of electrolysis, hydrogen\u2019s been a known source of energy for centuries, but Japan became a frontrunner in that energy source in recent years because of its status as a resource-poor country. A steady supply of renewable energy isn\u2019t just an important climate initiative, it\u2019s a matter of national security.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"5\">However, Japan\u00a0<em>may<\/em> have taken things a bit too far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"7\">In 2017, the country became the\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-3wjtm9 et3p2gv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/analysis\/japans-hydrogen-industrial-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/analysis\/japans-hydrogen-industrial-strategy\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"first in the world\"><u>first in the world<\/u><\/a>\u00a0to adopt a national hydrogen plan, and companies like Toyota have committed to constructing futuristic cities powered by the technology. In 2021 alone, Japan\u00a0<a class=\"body-link product-links css-3wjtm9 et3p2gv0\" href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=74968X1525083&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd42473-021-00069-8&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.popularmechanics.com%2Fscience%2Fgreen-tech%2Fa42665011%2Fjapan-hydrogen-energy-failure%2F&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=%5Butm_source%7C%5Butm_campaign%7C%5Butm_medium%7C%5Bgclid%7C%5Bmsclkid%7C%5Bfbclid%7C%5Brefdomain%7Cl.facebook.com%5Bcontent_id%7Cf03912df-995c-4ea9-902b-6ee933a12b2a%5Bcontent_product_id%7C1449f24e-885e-4243-8a2c-1b03282bc2e3%5Bproduct_retailer_id%7C55eebe00-ea44-4cf9-8697-692583d0fce2%5Blt%7C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d42473-021-00069-8\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"spent around $800 million\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d42473-021-00069-8\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"1449f24e-885e-4243-8a2c-1b03282bc2e3\" data-affiliate=\"true\" data-affiliate-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=74968X1525083&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd42473-021-00069-8\" data-affiliate-network=\"{}\" data-vars-ga-media-role=\"\" data-vars-ga-media-type=\"\" data-vars-ga-product-brand=\"\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$2,021.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"55eebe00-ea44-4cf9-8697-692583d0fce2\" data-vars-ga-product-sem3-brand=\"\" data-vars-ga-product-sem3-category=\"\" data-vars-ga-gallery-id=\"\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" data-skimlinks-tracking=\"[utm_source|[utm_campaign|[utm_medium|[gclid|[msclkid|[fbclid|[refdomain|l.facebook.com[content_id|f03912df-995c-4ea9-902b-6ee933a12b2a[content_product_id|1449f24e-885e-4243-8a2c-1b03282bc2e3[product_retailer_id|55eebe00-ea44-4cf9-8697-692583d0fce2[lt|\"><u>spent around $800 million<\/u><\/a> on investments into hydrogen power and fuel cells.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"9\">But according to the\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-3wjtm9 et3p2gv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.renewable-ei.org\/pdfdownload\/activities\/REI_JapanHydrogenStrategy_EN_202209.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.renewable-ei.org\/pdfdownload\/activities\/REI_JapanHydrogenStrategy_EN_202209.pdf\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Renewable Energy Institute\"><u>Renewable Energy Institute<\/u><\/a>\u00a0(REI), a Japanese environmental think tank, this push to use hydrogen in every conceivable energy sector is actually doing more harm than good.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"10\">From the report:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"body-blockquote css-smj7cx et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"11\"><p>\u201cThe 2017 Basic Hydrogen Strategy is misguided, both in terms of what hydrogen is used for and how it is produced. Moreover, it promotes the use of gray hydrogen, which does not contribute to emission reductions.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0\" data-node-id=\"12\">Gray hydrogen is the most common form of hydrogen production, which uses the greenhouse gas\u00a0<a class=\"body-link css-3wjtm9 et3p2gv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.popularmechanics.com\/science\/environment\/a28858699\/what-is-methane\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.popularmechanics.com\/science\/environment\/a28858699\/what-is-methane\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"methane\">methane<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2026click on the above link to read the rest\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan Tried to Build a Hydrogen Society. It Backfired Spectacularly. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Andriy Onufriyenko\/\/Getty Images Japan has long been a leader in\u00a0hydrogen\u00a0energy and fuel cell technology. Companies like Toyota plan to build entire cities entirely powered by hydrogen. A\u00a0new report\u00a0from an environmental think-tank argues that Japan is investing in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[33688,30832,30758,452,33687],"class_list":["post-65019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-energy-2","tag-darren-orf","tag-hydrogen","tag-hydrogen-energy","tag-japan","tag-popular-mechanics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=65019"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65020,"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65019\/revisions\/65020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}