DOE taps Japan group for research on hydrogen use

The Department of Energy (DOE) has engaged another partner, this time a Tokyo-based group, to fast track its research and development activities for the use of hydrogen as fuel for power generation in the Philippines.

For this, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the DOE had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hydrogen Technology Inc. (HTI).

“The DOE, with the creation of the hydrogen and fusion energy committee, commits to exploring hydrogen as a viable alternative and cleaner source of energy and its other beneficial applications for the Filipino people,” Cusi said in a statement.

“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 said.

Last January, the DOE signed a similar pact with Australia-based research and development firm Star Scientific Ltd.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 carbon dioxide emissions.”

“I had been wanting to bring the model [technology] here in the Philippines so that we can do the trial usage of the technology in one of the islands,” Cusi said.

“I hope that with the signing of this MOU, the model can be immediately shipped [to the Philippines],” Cusi added.

Cusi assured HTI that the DOE would help facilitate the entry into the Philippines of its technicians if needed, given the restricted movements because of the current COVID-19 pandemic.