Japanese trio to establish hydrogen and ammonia supply base in Kanagawa

Japanese energy companies ENEOS, JERA, and JFE will look into establishing hydrogen and ammonia receiving and supply base at the Keihin Waterfront Area in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The parties have concluded a memorandum of understanding and begun to discuss in detail the possibility of developing this supply project in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Technological development is underway for the practical use of hydrogen and ammonia as next-generation clean fuels that do not emit CO2 during combustion. For a large-scale consumption of these fuels at power plants, it is essential to develop large-scale receiving and supply bases near high-demand areas.

At the Keihin Waterfront Area in the center of the Kanto region where energy demand is large, ENEOS owns refineries and a plant. JERA also owns thermal power plants and an LNG receiving terminal. In addition, JFE is working with Kawasaki City for repurposing land.

The three companies have decided to consider using their business in this area to collaborate on the following aspects of the hydrogen and ammonia supply business:

• Establishment of hydrogen and ammonia receiving and supply base;
• Development of a hydrogen and ammonia supply network;
• Considering hydrogen and ammonia suppliers, transportation carriers;
• Transportation methods.

Among hydrogen and ammonia, ENEOS says it has a particular focus on the mass consumption of hydrogen. It is striving to develop a CO2-free hydrogen supply chain in Japan and overseas, in addition to operating hydrogen stations for FCVs in Japan.

In this study, ENEOS says it will consider the establishment of a base for receiving CO2-free hydrogen produced outside Japan and for supplying large-scale hydrogen customers in the vicinity.

Under its ‘JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050 objective’ JERA has been working to reduce CO2 emissions from its domestic and overseas businesses to zero by 2050. Also, JFE has been striving to reduce its own CO2 emissions and is targeting carbon-netrality by 2050.

In the Keihin Waterfront Area, JFE will lead the efforts to establish a supply chain for fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia by repurposing land that is part of JFE Steel’s East Japan Works on Ogishima island. Through these and related initiatives, JFE hopes to play a leading role in realizing a zero-carbon metropolitan Tokyo.

The three companies say they will work toward the establishment of a stable supply chain for clean fuels to achieve carbon neutrality by using their accumulated technologies and assets.