Honda, Tokuyama, Mistubishi Launch Joint Project for Hydrogen Byproducts

Honda has officially launched a joint demonstration project, teaming up with Tokuyama Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation, to power a distributed data center using hydrogen by-products and repurposed automotive fuel cells. The project was inaugurated on August 1, 2025 in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Key Highlights

Purpose, Partnership, Goals

• Honda, Tokuyama, and Mitsubishi are collaborating to evaluate the feasibility of reusing fuel cells from Honda CR‑V e vehicles as stationary power sources.
• The hydrogen fuel is supplied by Tokuyama’s salt‑water electrolysis by‑product process, offering a stable, low‑carbon energy input.
• Explore cost-effective use of automotive-grade fuel cells in stationary installations.
• Support decarbonization of data center power through hydrogen-derived electricity.
• Reduce economic barriers for customers deploying stationary FC systems by leveraging reused components.

Technical Setup

• Honda’s stationary fuel cell (FC) power station can connect up to 4 × 250 kW units, scaling to 1 MW per system, with multiple systems working in parallel as needed.
• Units deliver AC at 200–480 V, 3‑phase, start within 10 seconds, and operate in environments from –25 °C to +45 °C (up to 2,000 m altitude) with zero CO₂/NOx emissions.

Demonstration Scenarios

Using an Energy Management System, the project will test various operational modes:

• Emergency backup power
• Off‑grid primary power supply
• Peak shaving to reduce grid power during high-demand periods
• Supply‑demand balancing, including sending power back to the grid

Duration & Strategic Fit

• The trial runs from August 2025 through March 2026.
• Supports Honda’s broader strategy toward hydrogen-based systems across four application domains: FCEVs, commercial vehicles, stationary power, and construction machinery—with a corporate ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
• Demonstrates innovative reuse of automotive fuel cells to lower deployment costs and extend component lifespan.
• Enables low-carbon, stable power generation for data centers and potentially local municipalities—a major push in the shift toward green transformation (GX) and digital transformation (DX).
• Offers a flexible model that integrates hydrogen, batteries, renewable power, and grid connectivity, adaptable to diverse power-demand scenarios.

Summary Table

Feature	Details
Fuel Source	By‑product hydrogen from salt‑water electrolysis
Reused Component	Fuel cells from Honda CR‑V e:FCEV vehicles
Power Output	Up to 1 MW per station (4 × 250 kW units)
Use Cases	Backup, off‑grid, peak shaving, grid balancing
Demo Duration	August 2025 – March 2026
Strategic Significance	Supports Honda’s hydrogen rollout and GX/DX efforts