Ultra-thin batteries to power new tsunami warning balloon system

Japan’s Tohoku University, in collaboration with NGK Insulators, is developing an innovative tsunami disaster-prevention system called the Tsunami Balloon Project. This system automatically deploys balloon markers into the sky upon receiving tsunami warnings via Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) “Michibiki.” The balloons inflate rapidly to a height of 40 meters and are illuminated by NGK’s ultra-thin, compact lithium-ion rechargeable battery, EnerCera, which powers high-intensity LED lights. These illuminated balloons serve as clear, visual guides to evacuation shelters, especially crucial during nighttime or poor visibility conditions. The project targets the Nankai Trough region, a submarine trench along Japan’s Pacific coast with a high probability (60-90%) of experiencing a magnitude 8.0 to 9.0 megaquake within the next 30 years. Given that tsunamis here could arrive within 10 minutes, the system aims to provide immediate, intuitive evacuation cues