The metal hydride/air battery (HAB＊1) developed by MORIMITSU Masatsugu, Professor of the Department of Environmental Systems Science, the Faculty of Science and Engineering, was selected for the FY 2019 Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Energy Program＊2 of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). Research and development of HAB has been conducted since 2012 by five institutes (including private companies) led by Prof. Morimitsu under the Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA＊3), a Strategic Basic Research Program implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Based on the research results achieved so far, the MOE’s FY 2019 Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Energy Program will promote the development of HAB and its electricity storage system and conduct their demonstration experiments with an eye toward commercialization. The HAB electricity storage system is scheduled to enter a societal implementation phase in FY 2022.

For the announcement of programs selected for the FY 2019 Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Energy Program of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE):
https://www.env.go.jp/press/106814.html

For more details on the results achieved under the Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA) by the Japan Science and Technology Agency:
https://www.jst.go.jp/alca/kadai/prj_05.html#h24_02
https://www.jst.go.jp/alca/pdf/result2018.pdf

(Glossary)
＊１　The metal hydride/air battery (HAB)
The discharge performance of an aqueous air secondary battery that uses a metal hydride electrode (negative electrode) and an air electrode (positive electrode) brings about oxygen reduction at the positive electrode and hydrogen release at the negative electrode, thereby producing water. The charge performance of the battery brings about the electrolysis of water, thereby generating oxygen at the positive electrode and absorbing hydrogen at the negative electrode. In other air secondary batteries that use a metallic negative electrode (lithium, magnesium, etc.), the discharge capacity of the positive electrode is restricted because, at the time of discharge, they generate solid reaction products at the positive electrode, causing the plugging of the positive electrode. However, the HAB can prevent such plugging and is free from restrictions in the discharge capacity of the positive electrode, which are major features unique to the HAB. In addition, the HAB, which reacts to water only, does not trade off safety against high energy density. The HAB is expected to become a secondary battery for future generations that achieves a perfect balance between high energy density and safety.

＊２　MOE’s Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Energy Program
This program aims at the development and demonstration of technology to achieve a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions as part of efforts to further promote global warming countermeasures and eventually create a circulation- and symbiosis-based society, by breaking through technological barriers to enable higher-efficiency technology to drastically cut CO2 emissions at lower cost and by developing and implementing superior technology in the reduction of CO2 emissions.
https://www.env.go.jp/earth/ondanka/cpttv_funds/outline.html

＊３　Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA)
The ALCA is a Strategic Basic Research Program implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Under the R&D strategy developed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to continually and steadily promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from mid- and long-term perspectives, the ALCA aims to promote research and development to create new technologies that have great potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, based on latest scientific/technical findings, and thereby achieve research and development results that can contribute to the generation of green innovation.
http://www.jst.go.jp/alca/