2026-07-10

NanoFrontier Selected for Fiscal Year 2026 'Regional Revitalization Practical Development Promotion Subsidy'

NanoFrontier Selected for Fiscal Year 2026 “Regional Revitalization Practical Development Promotion Subsidy”

NanoFrontier Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Sendai, Miyagi; Representative Director: Seiya Inoue; hereinafter “NanoFrontier”) is pleased to announce its selection for Fukushima Prefecture’s Fiscal Year 2026 “Regional Revitalization Practical Development Promotion Subsidy”. The subsidized project is planned for implementation over a three-year period.

Background

As the deployment of renewable energy accelerates worldwide, demand for long-duration energy storage technologies capable of stabilizing power grids is surging globally. Vanadium redox flow batteries—currently the dominant technology—rely on expensive rare metals and highly corrosive acidic electrolytes, presenting a triple challenge of high capital costs, equipment corrosion risks, and unstable resource supply chains. These factors constitute a significant barrier to widespread adoption.

Building on proprietary technologies originating from Tohoku University, NanoFrontier has been advancing the commercialization of next-generation batteries that are safe, low-cost, and based on domestically sourced materials. Under this project, and in accordance with a cooperation agreement concluded with Namie Town in March 2026, NanoFrontier will conduct its development activities in the Hamadori region, with the aim of building energy infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale renewable energy integration and contributing to the region’s industrial revitalization.

Conceptual rendering Conceptual rendering

Project Overview

This three-year project will advance the following areas of development:

  • Development of rare-metal-free electrolytes utilizing organic nanoparticles

  • Development of low-cost, high-safety redox flow battery cell stacks

  • Development of a grid-scale battery storage system in Namie Town, Fukushima

The project aims to achieve long-duration energy storage using domestically procurable materials, without relying on expensive rare metals or highly corrosive electrolytes. Following the conclusion of the subsidy period, NanoFrontier will pursue further scale-up of storage capacity and establish manufacturing and development facilities in Namie Town, contributing to the creation of a domestically produced battery storage infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale renewable energy deployment.

Contribution to the Hamadori Region

This project directly aligns with Namie Town’s “Zero Carbon City Declaration” and “Hydrogen Town Vision.” NanoFrontier aims to develop an integrated energy system combining battery storage with “FH2R,” the hydrogen production facility located in Namie Town. Through the establishment of a research and development base, collaboration with local businesses, and the creation of new employment opportunities, the project will contribute to the concentration of next-generation energy industries in the Hamadori region.

Contribution to the Hamadori Region

Market Advisor

RYODEN Corporation will participate in this project as Market Advisor.

RYODEN maintains an extensive network spanning electric utilities, renewable energy operators, and infrastructure investment companies, and has a strong track record as a distributor of battery storage systems. The company also brings hands-on operational expertise beyond sales, having participated directly as an asset owner in the development and operation of grid-scale redox flow battery systems.

In this project, RYODEN will provide practical advisory support covering the full spectrum from development through commercial deployment—including customer development and channel building targeting renewable energy operators and electric utilities, as well as business feasibility assessments for battery storage adoption, subsidy utilization strategies, and revenue model design for electricity markets. This will enhance the market fit of NanoFrontier’s next-generation redox flow battery and accelerate its early market entry.

Comment from the CEO

“I am deeply honored by our selection for the Fiscal Year 2026 Regional Revitalization Practical Development Promotion Subsidy. Current redox flow batteries face a triple challenge of cost, safety, and resource dependency—and resolving all three at once through Tohoku University’s organic nanoparticle technology is the core of this project. By realizing an electrolyte that draws on Fukushima’s seawater as a regional resource, and by conducting our development in Namie Town, we will deliver a domestically produced battery storage infrastructure that supports large-scale renewable energy deployment—from Fukushima to the world.”

Seiya Inoue, Representative Director

About the Regional Revitalization Practical Development Promotion Subsidy

The Regional Revitalization Practical Development Promotion Subsidy is a national support program designed to promote the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake by supporting companies engaged in practical development activities in the Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture and surrounding areas (evacuation order zones and 15 municipalities in the Hamadori region and adjacent areas). The program is administered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and operated through Fukushima Prefecture as the designated point of contact.

Targeting companies that conduct business activities in areas where evacuation orders have been lifted, or that develop technologies addressing challenges specific to the Hamadori region, the program aims to promote industrial revitalization, job creation, and the emergence of new industries. The standard subsidy rate is three-quarters of eligible costs (one-half for large enterprises). NanoFrontier’s project was selected under the “Regional Challenge Resolution Category,” and has been recognized as a project that directly contributes to resolving regional challenges—specifically, the realization of Namie Town’s Zero Carbon City goals and the stable utilization of renewable energy—based on the cooperation agreement concluded with Namie Town as the partner municipality.

Official Website: https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/

Company Profile

  • Company Name: NanoFrontier Co., Ltd.
  • Representative: Seiya Inoue, Representative Director
  • Address: Room 215, Material Solutions Center (MaSC), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi Prefecture
  • Established: April 7, 2025
  • Business Activities:
    • R&D, manufacturing, and sales of reagents and functional materials using organic nanoparticle technologies
    • Contract manufacturing of organic nanoparticles and provision of related technologies
    • Technology licensing and consulting in the field of organic nanoparticle technologies
  • Website: https://nanofrontier.jp
  • Company Name: RYODEN Corporation
  • Representative: Katsuyuki Tomizawa, President and Representative Director
  • Address: Kojimachi Kosaibiru Building, 5-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
  • Established: April 22, 1947
  • Capital: ¥10,334,298,875
  • Stock Listing: Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market
  • Employees: 1,555 (consolidated)
  • Business Activities: Manufacturing, sales, and import/export of electrical machinery and equipment, electronic devices, and telecommunications equipment, as well as construction and systems integration
  • Website: https://www.ryoden.co.jp

Last updated: 2026-07-10