Japan earmarks $107 billion for developing hydrogen energy to cut emissions, stabilize supplies

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Japan’s government on Tuesday adopted a revision to the
country’s plans to use more hydrogen as fuel as part of the effort
to reduce carbon emissions, Azernews via to AP News.

The plan sets an ambitious target to increase the annual supply
by six times from the current level to 12 million tons by 2040. It
also pledges 15 trillion yen ($107 billion) in funding from both
private and public sources to build up hydrogen-related supply
chains over the next 15 years.

Japan’s decarbonization strategy centers on using so-called
clean coal, hydrogen and nuclear energy to bridge its transition to
renewable energy. Russia’s war on Ukraine has deepened concerns
over energy security and complicated that effort, but other
advanced Western nations are pushing for faster adoption of
renewable energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal.

So far, Japan is relying on hydrogen mainly produced using
fossil fuels.

Some experts say strategies like commercializing the use of
hydrogen and ammonia mainly cater to big business interests and
major industries that are heavily invested in fossil fuel-based
technologies and have power over the government policies.

The revised plan prioritizes nine strategic areas, including
development of water electrolysis equipment, fuel storage batteries
and large-size tankers for transporting hydrogen.

“Hydrogen is an industrial sector that can make a triple
achievement of decarbonization, stable energy supply and economic
growth in one shot,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said
at the Cabinet meeting Tuesday. “We will promote (hydrogen) on a
large scale, both demand and supply.”

Japan’s leaders say they want to turn the country into a
“hydrogen society,” but the hydrogen industry is still in its
initial stages. The government is still drafting legislation to
support building necessary infrastructure and supply chains for
commercial use of pure hydrogen and ammonia, another source of
hydrogen.

At a hydrogen council meeting with industrial leaders last week,
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan aims to achieve an “ Asian
zero-emission community,” contributing Japanese technology in
hydrogen, ammonia and other decarbonization technologies.

“By setting an ambitious goal we aim to make our plans more
predictable and encourage long-term investment in developing a
large-scale hydrogen supply and demand,” Kishida said.

The Cabinet also approved an annual energy report saying that
economic sanctions against Russia for its war on Ukraine have
increased long-term competition for liquefied natural gas,
forecasting that shortages could persist through 2025. European
demand for LNG as an alternative to Russian natural gas has pushed
LNG prices higher, making it necessary to draw up a long-term
strategy for securing stable energy supplies.

Japan adopted a so-called “green transformation” plan in
February that calls for promotion of next-generation solar
batteries, offshore wind power and renewed use of nuclear
energy.

Some experts say strategies like commercializing the use of
hydrogen and ammonia mainly cater to big business interests and
major industries that are heavily invested in fossil fuel-based
technologies and have power over the government policies.

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