Japanese firms target hydrogen supply chain in Kawasaki

Six Japanese companies across various industries and the city of Kawasaki have agreed to explore development of a hydrogen supply chain in the coastal area of Kawasaki city on the back of their decarbonisation goals.

Refiner Eneos, petrochemical producers Asahi Kasei and Showa Denko, engineering company Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions, infrastructure firm East Japan Railway, amino acid and healthcare provider Ajinomoto and Kawasaki city plan to investigate potential hydrogen demand and the possibility of building a supply chain within the area in east Japan's Kanagawa prefecture.

They are targeting generating and clarifying hydrogen demand in the area to urge suppliers to boost imports and production while reducing purchasing costs. The partners also aim to evaluate useful technology and build partnerships with hydrogen suppliers.

The partners chose the coastal area of Kawasaki to take advantage of major potential consumers in the area like gas-fired power generation plants, refineries, petrochemical complexes, plants and airports, as well as existing infrastructure such as ports, terminals and hydrogen pipelines.

Japanese companies and governments have promoted hydrogen for the country's 2050 decarbonisation target. Eneos is studying the feasibility of carbon-free hydrogen supply chains in Kawasaki and in Mutsu Ogawara in north Japan's Aomori prefecture, targeting to complete the study by the end of March 2023. Eneos also agreed with Kawasaki city in November last year to expand hydrogen use and supplies.

Fellow Japanese refiner Cosmo Energy and industrial gas supplier Iwatani earlier this month also decided to co-operate on setting up hydrogen supply chains including imports and building hydrogen filling stations.

By Nanami Oki