Kobe, Brisbane’s Sister City, continues to develop as a major hydrogen hub in Japan.
Recent developments include the establishment in September 2020 of the Kobe Kansai Hydrogen Utilisation Council comprising 11 companies involved in hydrogen related projects.
They include: The Electric Power Development Co. Ltd., ENEOS Corporation, Iwatani Corporation, The Kansai Electric Power Company Inc., Kawasaki Heavy industries Ltd., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Kobe Steel, Marubeni Corporation, Mitsubishi Power, Obayashi Corporation and Shell Japan Ltd.
In late 2020 Kawasaki Heavy Industries announced the completion of Kobe LH2 Terminal (Hy touch Kobe), the world’s first liquefied hydrogen receiving terminal. Operational testing has started at the facility.
Also in late 2020 was the launching of the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier The Suiso Frontier. The carrier is to be used for technology demonstration testing with the aim of establishing an international hydrogen energy supply chain with Australian liquefied hydrogen being shipped to Japan.