JAXA, Honda to Begin a Feasibility Study on a Circulative Renewable Energy System
June 14, 2021 | ACN NewswireEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Honda R&D Co., Ltd. (Honda) announced the plan to begin a joint feasibility study on a “circulative renewable energy system” in space, which is designed to supply oxygen, hydrogen, and electricity for human outposts and rovers. JAXA and Honda have been conducting a joint research on this system to create an environment in space where people can stay and conduct activities over an extended period of time.
In addition to water and food, people need oxygen, as well as hydrogen for fuel and electricity for various activities for life in space. One of the solutions to obtain them in space without resupply from Earth is creating a circulative renewable energy system, which combines a high differential pressure water electrolysis system that produces oxygen and hydrogen using solar energy to electrolyze water and a fuel cell system that generates electricity and water from oxygen and hydrogen.
Based on this concept, in November 2020, JAXA and Honda signed a three-fiscal year joint research agreement (through JFY 2022) to pursue research on the circulative renewable energy system for use on Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (Gateway) and on the surface of the Moon, utilizing Honda’s high differential pressure water electrolysis and fuel cell technologies.
In this joint research, while JAXA has been developing the study conditions according to the scenarios and requirements for missions related to the production of oxygen on the Gateway and the supply of electricity to rovers on the lunar surface based on the past investigations, Honda has been conducting technological studies to realize the missions and scenarios set by JAXA.
During the current fiscal year (JFY 2021), JAXA and Honda, utilizing the prototypes, will start the feasibility study addressing the issues on component technologies of the circulative renewable energy system identified by the research conducted during the last fiscal year. JAXA and Honda are planning to reflect the results of this year’s study on the viability evaluation of the whole system in the next fiscal year (JFY 2022).
Suggested Items
EV Solid-State Battery Validation Accelerates in the U.S. and Europe, Mass Production Expected to Gradually Begin by 2026
03/13/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest research reveals that solid-state batteries are emerging as the next-generation battery technology with high commercial potential. Manufacturers across the U.S., Europe, and other global markets are accelerating large-scale production development and performance validation for automotive applications.
Why Rare Earth Minerals Are Critical to the Supply Chain; A Strategic Opportunity for U.S. Manufacturing, Technology & Defense
03/05/2025 | LMA Consulting Group, Inc.Without rare earth minerals, modern manufacturing, technology, and defense industries simply cannot function. These critical materials are essential for producing semiconductors, EV batteries, pharmaceuticals, aerospace components and AI-driven technology.
Semiconductor Climate Consortium Announces Key 2025 Initiatives to Accelerate
03/04/2025 | SEMIThe Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC) unveiled its four key initiatives for 2025, marking a significant step forward in advancing the industry’s commitment to decarbonization and transparency.
Jabil Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Nearly Half Compared to Baseline, Releases Fiscal Year 2024 Sustainability Progress Report
03/04/2025 | JabilJabil Inc. has released its fiscal year 2024 Sustainability Progress Report, detailing the strides the company has made toward achieving its five-year sustainability goals.
NAES, Gecko Announce $100M Deal Deploying AI and Robotics to Transform the American Power Grid
02/27/2025 | BUSINESS WIRENAES, America’s largest independent power operator with 65GW under management, and Gecko, the company pioneering the development of AI-driven platforms using robotics, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the reliability and operational efficiency of American power production following President Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency on January 20th.