Technology Development

Tokyo Gas has always maintained a focus on technicalStrategic Direction of Technology Development

development, and the Company has developed its

In technology development, we focus on three areas: (1) theoperations while repeatedly taking on the challenge ofcreation of heart-reverberating concepts and the developmentof products that give concrete form to the value created

new technologies. As we strive to respond rapidly andby those concepts, (2) the development of innovative environ-accurately to changes in the operating environment,

mental technologies that will contribute to the realization of

we are working to develop technologies that will open
up new energy frontiers.

a low-carbon society, and (3) technologies that support theoperational platforms for stable administration of gas operations and for realization of higher-level usage and cost reductions. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, the Company
allocated about ¥9.2 billion to technology development.

The Technology Development Strategy of Tokyo Gas
Creation of Heart-Reverberating Concepts
and Development of Appealing Products

Development of Innovative
Environmental Technologies

Residential Sector

Innovative energy-saving technologies for advanced use of city gas• Development of technologies
related to understandingcustomers• Development of “ENE-FARM”(polymer electrolyte fuel cell)• Development of SOFC
(solid oxide fuel cell)• Development of lifestylevalue-added products+do GRILLER for
enjoying cooking• Effectiveness and efficiency
verification• Quality-oriented
commercialization

Commercial and Industrial Sectors

Commercial Ventilation
Alarm Equipment• Customer support technologies
that contribute to retentionof existing customers anddevelopment of technologies
that increase the safety ofgas systems• Development of technologies
that utilize solar heat andbiomass.

Renewable Energy Technologies, Low-Carbon Technologies• Technologies to make full use of biomass• Technologies for systems combining solar
heat/solar batteries with gas systems“SOLAMO” gas hot
water system that alsouses solar heat. Installedon the railing of an MDU.

• CO2 separation, collection, transport,and processing technologies• Technologies for the highly efficient
production and use of hydrogen• Technologies related to “Smart EnergyNetwork” composed of distributed
power sources

Hydrogen station

Technologies Supporting Our Operational Platforms• Production
Long-term facility maintenance, increased quality ofterminal operations, etc.

• Pipelines
Maintenance of securitylevels and optimization ofsecurity investment• Meters
Development ofservices using ultrasonicmeters, etc.

Major Outputs and Initiatives in Recent Years
Started general sales in May 2009 of residential polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) (sales name: “ENE-FARM”). Moving ahead
with development to further improve the product, targeting its use in MDUs.

Environmental Technologies

Development and demonstration testing of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies.
Ongoing demonstration testing of CO2 separation and collection during the production of hydrogen.
Started sales in February 2010 of SOLAMO gas hot water system that also uses solar heat and is installed on the railings of MDUs.

Platform Technologies

30Technology Development

Ongoing deepening, succession, and utilization of infrastructure construction technologies, maintenance management technologies, combustion engineering-related technologies, and gas quality management technologies, etc.

In-depth Report

The Story Behind the Development of “ENE-FARM,” the World’sFirst Residential Fuel Cell Cogeneration System“ENE-FARM” leverages new technologies to revolutionize energy usage in the home. But the regulatorysystem had to be revised to accommodate this newtechnology. This section describes part of the story
behind the challenging development of “ENE-FARM.”

The Passion of the TechnicalDevelopment Team Made theImpossible Happen

Toshiya Omura,
Fuel Cell BusinessDevelopment
Department

In confirming safety, another task
was to verify the safety of the fuelcells without an N2 purge. Inside
the fuel cell, the fuel processor iscomposed of extremely delicate

Verifying the Safety of an Entirely New Product,
Working to Get the Law Revised

catalyzers that reform city gas toIn the early stages of “ENE-FARM” development, the Elec-carbon monoxide that is created as a secondary product. Intricity Business Act required fuel cells to have the samecommercial fuel cell systems, to prevent degradation fromsafety measures as large-scale power plants. In contrast

the residual unreacted gas inside the catalyzer, the inside iswith solar power generation facilities and other devices inpurged, typically with an inert gas. Nitrogen is often used forthe category of “Electrical Facilities for General Use,” large-

this purpose.

produce hydrogen and remove thescale power plants are required to have chief electricity

With “ENE-FARM,” however, if nitrogen were used, aengineers for supervision and to follow very strict safety

large amount would be consumed. “At an early stage ofstandards. If fuel cells were required to meet these samedevelopment, we saw that the only choice was to use city gas

standards, then there was little chance they would befor purging,” said Hiroshi Fujiki, from the Product Develop-

adopted for residential use. Toshiya Omura, from the Fuelment Department. “That meant we needed to pay careful

Cell Business Development Department, said “We needed

attention to temperature. If city gas enters the fuel processor

to verify the safety of our fuel cells and then work to havewhen the processor is still hot, the gas will carbonize and sootthe laws and regulations revised.”

will clog the catalyzer. And if the temperature is too low, theFirst, it was necessary to correct the image of “ENE-gas will contract and outside air will be drawn in. The question

FARM” as a large-scale, dangerous device. Omura invitedwas, how much city gas should be used for purging, and how

members of the committees that evaluate safety standards

long after the fuel cell is stopped. The only way to find out

and staff from government offices to the test site, wherewas through trial and error.”they could observe the quiet, safe operation of these
However, as entirely new devices, there were no standards

The Idea that It Was Dangerous Was Eliminatedwith a Simple Image—Two Butane Lightersfor verification methods. “We identified every dangerous

We had cleared the technical hurdles, but we still needed toevent that we could think of and tested them,” said Omura.

respond to concerns about filling the inside of the fuel proces-“We tested power failures and malfunctions when the fuelsor with combustible gas. In that regard, Toshiya Omura

cell was in operation or in the middle of the shut down pro-explained that the amount of heat in the residual gas in thecess. And we opened up holes in the cell stacks and thenunit would be equivalent to what was in “two disposable

operated the units. In these ways, we conducted tests thatbutane lighters, even with a device that has 10 times thewere certain to make the fuel cells break down.”

output of ‘ENE-FARM.’” This simple image became a break-devices. The next issue was to actually verify their safety.

through in obtaining understanding of the safety of the N2
purgeless system, and “ENE-FARM” was approved for thecategory of “Electrical Facilities for General Use,” which does
not require the posting of a chief electricity engineer.

The Day that a World-Leading Technology became aWorld-First Product Known as “ENE-FARM”
In 2005, the first “ENE-FARM” was installed in the official
residence of the Prime Minister. Looking back, Toshiya
Omura said “I remember hearing the news and thinking, ‘weHiroshi Fujiki, Product Development Department

made it.’ I was very relieved.”

TOKYO GAS ANNUAL REPORT 201031