Germany, Japan collaborate on clean energy projects
Germany and Japan are collaborating on a range of clean energy projects to boost technology transfer and reshape both countries energy systems
Germany and Japan are collaborating on a range of clean energy projects to boost technology transfer and reshape both countries energy systems.
Researchers at Germany’s Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and Japan’s Gifu University are working on a suite of projects that will focus on the integration of solar power into the grid, production forecasts and green power-to-gas energy storage.
Gifu Prefecture and the German state of Baden-Württemberg have well established political and economic ties and are now extending the relationship into sustainable energy research.
ZSW Managing Director Frithjof Staiss said the collaboration would help to improve conditions “for an efficient transfer of research results into the marketplace.”
Solar PV systems soared in popularity in Japan last year, with output reaching a total of about 23 GW by the end of 2014.
Through a partnership with the German institute, Japanese researchers expect to benefit from the lessons learned in Germany, which has an installed capacity of 16 GW higher and the integration of solar power into the distribution network is at an advanced stage.
Both parties are also aiming to improve forecasts for solar and wind power generation.
Accurate and reliable forecasts are needed to ensure that electrical power supply systems run efficiently.
Researchers will collaborate on green power-to-gas energy storage technology with the increasing number of fuel cells in Japan driving demand for hydrogen that can be used in energy converters.
ZSW has developed power-to-gas technology and their expertise will be crucial if Gifu University officials go ahead with the proposed construction of a power-to-gas plant.
The three ZSW sites at Stuttgart, Ulm and Widderstall are staffed with around 230 scientists, engineers and technicians supported by 70 research and student assistants.