Japanese firms tie up for hydrogen supply chain in Australia
Four Japanese firms: Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Toyo Engineering Corporation, JGC Corporation and Chiyoda Corporation have signed a joint venture agreement to enhance the front-end engineering design (FEED) execution for a liquefied hydrogen supply chain being developed by Japan Suiso Energy (JSE).
According to Kawasaki, the four parties will conduct the required FEED aimed at realising a demonstration of commercial operations for hydrogen liquefaction facilities (two plants capable of processing 60 tonnes/day), onshore liquefied hydrogen storage tanks (five tanks with a capacity of 10,000 cu m each), export terminal facilities for large liquefied hydrogen carriers and related facilities at the liquefaction and export terminal in Hastings, Victoria, Australia.
Furthermore, Kawasaki revealed the companies will determine the optimal equipment requirements, specifications and costs, among others, for demonstration tests for the commercialization of JSE’s liquefied hydrogen supply chain.
Moving forward, Kawasaki noted the company will combine its technologies and skills in the areas of liquefied hydrogen storage, handling and transport, drawing on the extensive accumulated experience and technical knowledge that Toyo, JGC and Chiyoda possess in the area of overseas plant design and construction.
The goal is to accelerate FEED aimed at the creation of liquefied hydrogen supply chains, and in doing so, contribute toward the realisation of Japan’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, Kawasaki said.
JSE is currently pursuing a NEDO Green Innovation Fund project calling for the demonstration of commercial operations of a liquefied hydrogen supply chain, with the aim of full-scale commercialisation of a clean hydrogen supply chain.
The project aims to support the development of hydrogen liquefaction and transportation technology on a scale of tens of thousands of tonnes per year for commercialisation in the 2030s and the establishment of an integrated international liquefied hydrogen supply chain from Australia to Japan.
In October 2023, Japan’s INPEX Corporation concluded an agreement to acquire shares in JSE and take part in developing the supply chain. Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Iwatani Corporation are the creators of the JSE venture.
