According to the Asia Nikkei Review, Toyota Motor will begin tests of hydrogen as a power source at production facilities as early as this year. The aim is to tame rising carbon dioxide emissions by expanding on its experience as the developer of the Mirai, its first fuel cell car on the market.

Solar and wind power generated in Fukuoka Prefecture will be used to split water molecules, producing hydrogen that will be stored and tapped to fill fuel cells as needed.

Heating equipment and air-conditioning account for roughly 60 % of CO2 emissions from the production process. Toyota subsidiary Toyota Motor Kyushu will power air conditioners and forklifts with hydrogen, and aims to use it in the paint-drying process as well. Excess hydrogen could then be used in the Mirai fuel cell car.

Toyota will join hands with Fukuoka Prefecture and Kyushu University, which have studied the cost-effectiveness of hydrogen power. The Japanese automaker will take advantage of their know-how, targeting full-fledged adoption of the technology at the Mirai plant in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, by 2020.