Since recent energy issues and global warming measures have become major international issues, expectations on commercializing fuel cells have been increasing. The biggest feature of a fuel cell is its high energy conversion efficiency rate compared to a system which produces electricity by burning fossil fuels, as it converts chemical energy to direct electric energy. The most basic structure utilizes the reaction to produce water from hydrogen and oxygen, and has several advantages such as no noise or vibration, and little emissions that are harmful to the environment such as carbon dioxide (CO₂). As a result, it is expected to be used in a wide range of areas from domestic co-generators which make use of the electricity and the accompanying heat produced to high-efficiency thermal power systems, source of power for automobiles, power for mobile devices, etc.

Many technical issues such as improvement in durability, securing trust, and higher performance through new material development, however, remain before it can be commercialized. To solve these issues and improve the usage of fuel cells in various fields, it is important to construct a research system that can support all fields, a one-stop support R & D system that can support from foundation to commercialization.

Kyushu University established the “Next-Generation Fuel Cell Research Center” (NEXT-FC) on January 1^st. This center has been realized through a project “Next-generation Type Fuel Cell Research Facility” adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Innovation Center Establishment Assistance Program (“Technology Bridge” development program) in June last year.

This center utilizes the research achievements produced by research facilities related to the field of fuel cells within the university (International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Center for Future Chemistry, Inamori Frontier Research Center, Graduate School of Faculty of Engineering, International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, etc.), and promotes R & D activities targeting specific commercial uses by co-operating with corporations. In particular, the center’s relationship with the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research makes it possible to utilize the network of world top-class researchers and through international cooperation, produce research which is the most advanced in the world. Furthermore, through thorough management in cooperation with the Intellectual Property Management Center of Kyushu University, the center ensures that there is a reliable support system for confidentiality protection contracts and corporation secrets management in individual joint researches with corporations.

The center also actively supports the nurture of talents who will shoulder the future in the field of next-generation fuel cells. In the industrial world, in order to promote the commercialization of fuel cell-related technology, the nurture of technicians with a wide perspective is demanded, and in response to such demands, the center will support nurturing of talents in the field of next-generation fuel cells by holding technical seminars and industry-academia related technology exchanges targeting young researchers and doctoral students, etc.

Scheduled for completion in October, the research facility which will become the center’s base is currently undergoing construction at the East Zone of the Ito Campus of Kyushu University. After completion, it will have the world’s most advanced fuel cell test and analysis system, make it possible to see the interior of a battery, solve various technical issues, make acceleration of R & D possible, manage the secrets of corporation’s battery cells, and securely manage laboratory research using gas.

In this way, making use of the university’s advantage of industry-academia relationship, the center is a one-stop research center that can solve various technical issues related to fuel cell development. Furthermore, many ceramics-related corporations can be found in Kyushu. The center hopes to become a research hub that can lead the world on solid oxide fuel cells using ceramics that can produce electricity most efficiently, and at the same time, promote real commercialization and acceleration of development on next-generation fuel cells through close industry-academia relationships which make use of the features of the region.

Overview of the Next-Generation Fuel Cell Research Center
<Peripheral conditions required on the operation of “Next-generation Type Fuel Cell Research Facility”>
Not just a “building,” but to lead industry-academia activities as a “Technology Bridge”
Necessary to establish a close operational structure with private corporations (executives, technicians)
Respond to basic research, research on commercialization and technical support, while getting the cooperation from researchers in relevant organizations.

Basic Research
Research on application and commercialization
One-stop support “fuel cell refuge temple”
Development of next-generation material (radical technological development)
Expansion of operation conditions to improve flexibility
System technological development
Technological support (trouble shooting)
Low-cost technological development
Proposal of Longevity Assessment Technological Acceleration Test Act
Expansion of fuel applicability to improve diversity

Major activities of the center

1.Latest R & D and support for commercialization (corporation’s battery cell assessment analyses, etc.) through industry-academia co-operation related to next-generation fuel cells

2.Technological guidance in the field of next-generation fuel cells (function of “refuge temple”)

3.Implementation of joint research projects by several corporations in common technological areas (non-competitive areas) (implementation of public research projects, etc.)

4.Implementation of individual joint researches (thorough management of confidentiality protection contracts and corporation secrets)

5.Basic and seedling researches on next-generation technology
(Basic research support through co-operation with the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Center for Future Chemistry, Inamori Frontier Research Center, and Graduate School of Faculty of Engineering, etc.)

6.World leading research through international co-operation
(International joint researchers through co-operation with the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research)

7.Support the nurturing of talents in the field of next-generation fuel cells (technological seminars including practice, organization of industry-academia technological exchanges for young researchers and doctoral students, etc.)

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