Japan to use hydrogen power at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

8 Sep 2014

A stadium proposal for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Tokyo Olympics in six years’ time aims to use the clean energy potential of hydrogen to power parts of its operation in a bid to promote the technology.

The harnessing of the power of one of the most abundant elements in the universe is still far from being viable as an efficient source of renewable energy but the Tokyo Olympic Organising Committee hope to at least power the Olympic Village, according to the Japan News.

Attempting to show the benefits of a “hydrogen energy-oriented society,” the local government of Tokyo will also hope to introduce hydrogen fuel cells in the mega-city’s bus network as well as other as-yet unknown public transport systems that will connect Tokyo’s main station with its surrounding bat area.

The government has also confirmed its interest in its aim to produce a fleet of hydrogen-powered boats as a further means of public transport by creating a water-bus service for visitors arriving during the Olympic Games.

the technology behind hydrogen-powered boats will be referenced from that already established by one of the country’s largest car manufacturers, Toyota, who hope to introduce a hydrogen-powered car by the end of the fiscal year 2014.

With designs for the boat expected to appear sometime next year, the hope is now to have a working prototype model some time by the end of 2017.

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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