Japan Aims To Boost Its Hydrogen Supply To 12 Million Tonnes By 2040

Japan will revise its hydrogen strategy by the end of May, with an ambitious goal of increasing annual supply to 12 million tonnes by 2040, according to the industry ministry, as competition in the global market for the fuel heats up.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke at a ministerial meeting about the need to revise the hydrogen strategy, which was first outlined in 2017, and to accelerate supply chain development.

Kishida stated that Japan will accelerate the roll out of supply chains in collaboration with Australia, the Middle East, and Asia, citing massive hydrogen investment by the US and Europe.

According to Kishida, the resource-poor country will also advance the development of domestic regulation and support.

The industry ministry expects to complete the new plans in about two months, with investments totaling 15 trillion yen ($113 billion) over 15 years in the public and private sectors, as it seeks to lead the setting of global standards for cleaner fuel, according to a ministry official.

According to the ministry, Japan's current goal is to increase annual hydrogen supply to about 3 million tonnes by 2030 from 2 million tonnes now, which is primarily used by oil refiners, and to increase the figure to 20 million tonnes by 2050.

Hydrogen has been promoted as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, and major industries such as energy, steel, and chemicals are investigating how to transition to hydrogen in order to reduce carbon emissions.

Its carbon footprint is determined by the energy source used to split water via electrolysis.

Together with ammonia, the fuel plays a significant role in Japan's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.