Sharp's Corporate Research and Development Group is working together with Japan's Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) on R&D to develop basic technology for generating hydrogen using biotechnology. Microorganisms are used to generate large amounts of hydrogen from biomass such as kitchen food waste. The hydrogen is then supplied to fuel cells as an energy source. Sharp is working with development of these fuel cells for household use and aiming for their practical utilization by 2010.

Research in fuel cell technology is progressing toward the goal of its practical use as a source of energy that does not depend on fossil fuel. Sharp's research in the use of biomass is attracting attention as a beneficial method of meeting the challenges of waste reduction and global warming.