Renewable hydrogen systems manufacturer Ways2H Inc. and its technical partner Japan Blue Energy Co. (JBEC) have completed a Tokyo facility that will convert sewage sludge into renewable hydrogen fuel for fuel cell mobility and power generation. The facility was developed and built in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, TODA Corporation, TOKYU Construction, CHIYODA Kenko and researchers at Tokyo University of Science to help Japan meet growing demand for renewable hydrogen while demonstrating a new pathway for sustainable disposal of waste.

Located at the Sunamachi Water Reclamation Center near Tokyo Bay, the facility will produce 40 kg to 50 kg of hydrogen per day, using 1 ton of dried sewage sludge. This output is enough to fuel 10 passenger The facility will convert sewage sludge into renewable hydrogen gas for fuel cell vehicles. Source: TODA/Japan Blue Energy Co. Ltd.vehicles or 25 fuel cell e-bikes.

In addition to wastewater sludge, plastic, paper, municipal solid waste and other refuse will be processed. The waste is heated to a high temperature and converted into a gas, from which pure hydrogen is extracted. The facility is carbon-neutral and generates its own fuel in a closed-loop process.

Ways2H, Inc. is a global team that applies a thermochemical process developed by JBEC to convert waste biomass into renewable hydrogen. Ways2H is a joint venture between U.S.-based Clean Energy Enterprises and JBEC.

JBEC reports that the most significant feature of its technology is the use of alumina balls as a heating carrier. Through its BLUE process, alumina balls heated to high temperatures contact biomass materials such as woodchips and sewage sludge in a pyrolyzer, generating pyrolyzed gas that contains hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane.

In the reforming zone, the pyrolyzed gas contacts steam under higher temperatures by partial oxidation, producing hydrogen-rich gas via the steam reforming reaction. By mixing heat carriers and raw materials, it does not cause uneven heat in the reaction furnace. This suppresses tar generation, which is the major factor in equipment problems such as blockages in conventional gasification plants, the company said.