Ultra-Thin and Compact Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery "EnerCera" Supports Demonstration Experiment of Tohoku University's Tsunami Balloon Project

­NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (hereinafter, “NGK”) announced that it is supporting a demonstration experiment of Tohoku University’s Tsunami Balloon Project by manufacturing and supplying its ultra-thin and compact lithium-ion rechargeable battery, EnerCera®. This project aims to establish a new disaster prevention system that automatically deploys balloon-type evacuation markers in the event of a tsunami, intuitively indicating the locations of tsunami evacuation facilities—such as evacuation towers and evacuation buildings—from the sky. EnerCera provides power to the light source installed in the balloon, enabling evacuation sites to be clearly identified even at night or under poor visibility conditions.

In the demonstration experiment, EnerCera is installed as the power source for the light unit of the balloon-type evacuation marker, which is activated immediately after a tsunami occurs. The experiment verifies whether sufficient brightness is achieved when the balloon is deployed and whether the system meets practical usability requirements. EnerCera combines a thin and lightweight design with high output and excellent environmental resistance, enabling stable operation in outdoor environments. By enabling wireless lighting control, the system is expected to improve the visibility of tsunami evacuation facilities during nighttime hours and help prevent delays in evacuation.

The Tsunami Balloon Project is an initiative led by a Tohoku University technical team to develop a system that automatically deploys balloons into the air upon receiving disaster and hazard information—such as tsunami warnings and emergency earthquake alerts—distributed via the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) “Michibiki.” In the demonstration experiment, a series of operational tests is conducted in which, after receiving a tsunami warning (test transmission), gas is rapidly injected into the balloon, inflating it to a diameter of approximately two meters and lifting it to a height of around 40 meters within approximately two to three minutes. The balloon is marked with human-shaped pictograms so that evacuation facilities can be identified simply by looking up at the sky. To enhance nighttime visibility, EnerCera is integrated as the light source.

In the event of a Nankai Trough earthquake, tsunamis are expected to reach more than 60 municipalities within 10 minutes of the earthquake, making rapid evacuation essential. Tsunami evacuation buildings and towers are often difficult to identify amid urban landscapes, particularly for visitors unfamiliar with the area. In response to these challenges, NGK is cooperating in realizing a new type of evacuation marker that indicates the locations of tsunami evacuation facilities from the sky by supplying its lithium-ion rechargeable battery EnerCera, which leverages NGK’s proprietary ceramic technologies.

As a company with business sites located in regions expected to be affected by a Nankai Trough earthquake, NGK believes this initiative will contribute to improving regional safety. Under its medium- to long-term vision, NGK Group Vision: Road to 2050, the NGK Group aims to transform its business portfolio toward the Carbon Neutral (CN) and Digital Society (DS) fields. By applying the knowledge gained through this initiative to the creation of products and services that help address social challenges, NGK will continue striving to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.