Sumitomo Rubber taps hydrogen energy for tire manufacture

Hyogo, Japan – Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has started mass production of tires using hydrogen and solar energy in Japan, the group has announced.

The milestone was achieved following a proof-of-concept project at the Japanese manufacturer’s Shirakawa plant in Fukushima, SRI said 15 Jan.

Launched in August 2021, the project involved supplying steam for tire production from a hydrogen boiler and solar panels installed at the factory site.

The steam is then used to operate Neo-T01 – the group’s "high-precision metal-core" production system – during the vulcanisation process.

According to SRI, the factory has been using the eco-friendly energy sources to produce Falken Azenis FK520 tires since January last year.

The process, the group added, has reduce net emissions of the greenhouse gases, including CO2, to practically zero.

Net emissions, it said, are calculated by subtracting the volume of greenhouse gas “absorption by means of afforestation, forest administration, etc. from that of greenhouse gas emissions."

The proof-of-concept project is scheduled to continue until February, with SRI next planning to expand the use of hydrogen energy to all the processes at Shirakawa.

Furthermore, the group said it will formulate a detailed plan for use of hydrogen energy at other plants both in Japan and overseas.

SRI added that it will seek to produce hydrogen with clean electric power to procure “carbon-free hydrogen” towards minimising CO2 emissions across the tire supply-chain.

The group is also seeking to build a ‘local-production-for-local-consumption model’ of the hydrogen energy: procuring hydrogen from a production plant in Fukushima.

Fukushima, SRI noted, is “very advanced in the field of renewable energy” with more than 40% of energy consumed in the prefecture sourced from renewables.

Operational since 1974, the Shirakawa facility has the capacity to produce 10,350 tonnes per annum of passenger car, light truck, TBR and earthmover tires.