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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Not once, but twice: DOE signs another MOU for hydrogen power development

Not once, but twice: DOE signs another MOU for hydrogen power development

Published Apr 8, 2021 05:02 pm

The Department of Energy (DOE) has doubled down on its moves to develop hydrogen as a viable power source for Filipinos.

Department of Energy (DoE) (MANILA BULLETIN)
Department of Energy (DoE)
(MANILA BULLETIN)

This, after the agency signed on Wednesday, April 7 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tokyo-based Hydrogen Technology Inc. (HTI) to explore the use of hydrogen as a fuel for power generation.

“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,” Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi said in his remarks during the virtual signing of the MOU.

“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.

It was only last January 27 when the DOE signed an MOU with Australia-based research and development (R&D) company Star Scientific Ltd. to study the potential of hydrogen as a local energy source.

Star Scientific is the entity behind the breakthrough technology dubbed the Hydrogen Energy Release Optimiser (HERO). HERO converts hydrogen into heat without combustion.

The DOE said the double signings are in line with Sec. Cusi’s vision to include hydrogen in the country’s future energy mix.

The energy chief expressed hope that HTI will be able to bring into the country its technology 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,” Cusi told HTI executives led by its President and Chief Executive Office (CEO), Mr. Yasuhiro Yamamoto. Yamamoto signed the MOU on behalf of his company.

Cusi further assured HTI that the DOE would help facilitate the entry of its technicians to the country if needed, given the travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Under the MOU, the DOE and HTI will “investigate hydrogen production in the Philippines to make the country energy independent and significantly reduce the country's CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions.”

The energy chief said the DOE was honored to be in collaboration with HTI.

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