Japan Electric Power Development Co Ltd is undertaking the pilot project to develop an international hydrogen supply chain from liquefaction of hydrogen produced with brown coal in the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, Australia, to transportation of the same to Japan. J-Power recently held the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony at the construction site of the Brown Coal Gasification and Gas Refining Facility at Loy Yang to be managed by J-Power.
This pilot project will include the demonstration of brown coal gasification and gas-refining, hydrogen liquefaction, shipbuilding and operation of a specialised liquefied hydrogen carrier, and identification of a future commercialisation pathway for the commercial phase of a hydrogen supply chain. J-Power will be responsible for the Brown Coal Gasification and Gas-Refining Facility using the coal gasification expertise they have accumulated over 20 years.
This pilot project is being delivered with the full support of Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation and the Victorian and Australian Governments, by a consortium in Japan comprising of C02-free Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Technology Association; consisting of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd, J-Power, Iwatani Corporation, Shell Japan Limited, Marubeni Corporation and JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation and in Australia consisting of KHI, Hydrogen Engineering Australia Pty Ltd, J-Power, J-Power Latrobe Valley Pty Ltd, Iwatani, Marubeni, Sumitomo Corporation and AGL.
Australia and Japan will cooperate to deploy hydrogen power, after signing a joint statement in Melbourne on Friday.
“Australia is building a hydrogen production base to foster domestic growth and meet future export demand in Japan and the region,” Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said.
Australia and Japan have a history of energy and resource trade and, as such, are well placed to maximise the opportunities presented by hydrogen, according to Canavan who signed the agreement alongside Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroshi Kajiyama.
The nations “recognise that hydrogen is a key contributor to reducing emissions, especially when produced from renewable energy or fossil fuels combined with Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS),” Canavan said.
