Hydrogen and fuel cell research funding in Japan topped $240 million in the current fiscal year, more than twice the amount being spent by the U.S. Department of Energy, and three times the amount requested for 2013.

(Washington, DC April 13, 2012) Hydrogen and fuel cell research funding in Japan topped $240 million in the current fiscal year, more than twice the amount being spent by the U.S. Department of Energy, and three times the amount requested for 2013.

The totals were derived from a recent speech by the director of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Promotion Office at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The total includes financial support for residential fuel cell installations and a variety of research and demonstration activities.

The ENE-FARM residential fuel cell unit has been highly successful in Japan, with over 10,000 units having been sold in the last year alone. ENE-FARM manufacturers, including ENEOS Celltech, Toshiba, and Panasonic, anticipate continued strong sales throughout the fiscal year.

The Japanese government will be making a decision this summer on the budget for deployment of up to 100 hydrogen stations to support the first commercial sales of fuel cell electric vehicles.

To see a chart with 2012 funding and budget slide, please go to http://www.fuelcells.org/news/Japan2012FuelCellFunding.pdf.