DOE, Japan’s HTI partner to explore hydrogen as fuel source for power generation

The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with Tokyo-based Hydrogen Technology Inc. (HTI) to explore the potential use of hydrogen as a fuel source for power generation in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the DOE said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and HTI president and CEO Yasuhiro Yamamoto signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 7 to fast track the Philippines’ research and development (R&D) activities for hydrogen.

“The DOE, with the creation of the Hydrogen and Fusion Energy Committee (HFEC), commits to exploring hydrogen as a viable alternative and cleaner source of energy and its other beneficial applications for the Filipino people,” Cusi said.

“With the assistance of HTI and through the signing of the MOU, we are hopeful that the development of hydrogen energy will eventually be realized,” he added.

The MOU with HTI is the second accord that the DOE inked to further the research and development of hydrogen energy in line with the department’s vision to include hydrogen in the country’s future energy mix.

In January, the DOE said it signed a similar undertaking with Star Scientific Ltd., an Australian research and development company. 

Cusi noted that HTI will be able to bring its technology into the country sooner so that the R&D activities can already commence.

“I had been wanting to bring the model here in the Philippines so that we can do the trial usage of the technology in one of the islands. I hope that with the signing of this MOU, the model can be immediately shipped,” he said.

The Energy chief told HTI that the DOE will help facilitate the entry of its technicians if needed, given the restricted movements because of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the MOU, the DOE and HTI plan to “investigate hydrogen production in the Philippines to make the country energy independent and significantly reduce the country's CO2 emissions.” — Ted Cordero/BM, GMA News