Use of Hydrogen Energy in Tire Manufacturing

In 2021, the Sumitomo Rubber Group established its long-term sustainability policy: “Driving Our Future Challenge 2050,” under which it is promoting various projects for realization of the sustainable society, including carbon neutrality. Since August 2021, we have been working on the proof of concept*¹ of hydrogen that is considered highly promising as the next-generation energy at our major tire factory in the City of Shirakawa(Fukushima Prefecture). The proof of concept is supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization(NEDO, a national research and development agency). Further, in addition to introduction of the hydrogen energy, we installed solar photovoltaic panels*² at the parking lot for the employees of the plant so that, in January 2023, Sumitomo Rubber Industries started, with the use of the hydrogen and solar power generation, manufacturing mass-production tires*³ that achieved the carbon neutrality*⁴ (Scopes 1 and 2) at the time of production for the first time in Japan*⁵.

1. Sumitomo Rubber to Begin Proof of Concept Toward Harnessing Hydrogen Energy at Shirakawa Factory in Fukushima Prefecture (News Release Issued July 28, 2021)
2. Capable of generating more electric power than is used by the high-precision metal core production system “NEO-T01,” the equipment used for the substantiative experiment.
3. FALKEN “AZENIS FK520.” Excludes FALKEN “AZENIS FK520L.
4. Making the net emission of the greenhouse gas, including CO₂, practically zero. The net emission is calculated by subtracting the volume of green gas “absorption” by means of afforestation, forest administration, etc. from that of greenhouse gas “emission.”
5. Based on In-House Research

Production of Tires Utilizing Hydrogen Energy and Solar Power Generation

SRI has long been working on reducing CO₂ emissions, through promotion of energy saving, wider use of cogeneration systems, introduction of solar power generation, and procurement of green electric power generated with renewable energy, among others. In order to achieve the carbon neutrality in the production process (Scope 1 and 2), it is essential to convert into the green energy the natural gas that is currently in use for the high-temperature, high-pressure steam energy needed in the vulcanization process. In this process, the heat and pressure are applied to the tire to cause chemical reactions to make it a completed product. As it is technically difficult to use the electric power for the generation of the high-temperature, high-pressure steam, we decided to utilize “hydrogen” for the generation of the steam that burns without emission of CO₂.

In the proof of concept, we supplies the steam, generated with the hydrogen boiler, to the high-precision metal core production system “NEO-T01” during the vulcanization process. Also, we installed carport-type solar generation facilities in the parking lot for the employees that accommodates about 700 cars, which can generate more power than is used in the “NEO-T01”. We thus produces mass-production tires in a way the carbon neutrality (Scope 1 and 2) is achieved for the first time in Japan in the production process with the use of the hydrogen energy and solar power generation.

Building Local-Production-for-Local Consumption Model of Hydrogen Energy

SRI is seeking to build a local-production-for-local-consumption model of the hydrogen energy, procuring hydrogen from a hydrogen production plant in Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima is very advanced in the field of renewable energy: more than 40% of energy consumed in the prefecture is sourced from renewables. Furthermore, it has a vision to increase the ratio to 100% by 2040. City of Shirakawa also has made the “Zero Carbon City Declaration,” planning to achieve practically zero net CO₂ emissions by 2050. We will contribute to achievement of the carbon neutrality by using hydrogen produced in the region for manufacturing, thereby building the local-production-for-local-consumption model.

Programs under Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration

It is difficult for a single company to establish the implementation model for realization of the hydrogen society: the Sumitomo Rubber Group believes that collaboration of the relevant industries, governments and academia is essential for the success. We are already in alliance with hydrogen producers and energy companies for stable production and transportation of hydrogen, and is actively exchanging information with other relevant manufacturers. It is also collecting information from academia at various lecture sessions so that it can get advices from educational and research institutions from academic point of view. With the support from the national and local governments together with subsidy for the project, it is now planning to engage itself in communications with various parties to further enhance the collaboration among the industries, governments and academia.

Seek to Establish Technologies for Use of Hydrogen

The proof of concept is scheduled to continue until February 2024 for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050: establishing technologies for use of hydrogen in producing tires; and establishing the local-production-for-local-consumption business model with the use of hydrogen produced in Fukushima. In consideration of the expected increase in demand for hydrogen after the substantiative experiment is completed, we will seek to produce hydrogen with electric power derived from renewable energy and procure carbon-free hydrogen to minimize CO₂ emissions of the supply chain of the tires. When the substantiative experiment is over, we will expand use of hydrogen energy to all the processes at Shirakawa Factory, and will formulate a detailed plan for use of hydrogen energy at other plants both in Japan and overseas.

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