Commencement of Research on the Hydrogen Supply Model in Coastal Area of Kansai Region

TOKYO, JAPAN, 28 Jul. 2021

Marubeni Corporation (President and CEO, Masumi Kakinoki; hereinafter, “Marubeni”), Iwatani Corporation (President, Hiroshi Majima; hereinafter, “Iwatani”), Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC (CEO, Masato Sase; hereinafter, “Deloitte Tohmatsu”) and Nippon Steel Pipeline & Engineering Co. Ltd. (President and CEO, Toshifumi Motouchi; hereinafter, “Nippon Steel P&E”) are pleased to announce the entrustment of research on the Hydrogen Supply Model in Coastal Area in Kansai Region (hereinafter, “Study”), under the framework of "Hydrogen Society Construction Technology Development / Regional Hydrogen Utilization Technology Development / Hydrogen Production & Utilization Potential Research", by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (hereinafter, “NEDO”).

In order to achieve a hydrogen society, in addition to the development of hydrogen supply chain from domestic hydrogen derived from renewable energy and by-product hydrogen, the utilization of low-cost imported hydrogen produced from unused resources is essential, and it is necessary to study a supply model from receiving to transporting imported hydrogen to an area of demand. Specifically, it is important to analyze the cost associated with hydrogen supply and identify potential barriers in order to establish efficient supply chain and to build up demand in coastal areas that are likely to use imported hydrogen.

The Kobe/Kansai Hydrogen Utilization Council (hereinafter, the “Council”) in which Marubeni, Iwatani and Deloitte Tohmatsu participate and serve as Secretariat, conducted a study on potential demand and supply method around coastal areas that could be candidates for utilization of imported hydrogen. Nippon Steel P&E has an extensive track record of carrying out maintenance work on nationwide high-pressure municipal gas pipelines, from the planning stage to execution.

In collaboration with the Council, the Study will be conducted with support from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., ENEOS Corporation and Obayashi Corporation. It will assess business feasibility of the hydrogen supply model from unloading and storage at the receiving terminal, to transportation (high-pressure hydrogen pipeline and liquefied hydrogen lorry) from the receiving terminal to an area of demand. The site comparison of potential hydrogen receiving terminals will also be assessed and the Study report is scheduled to be completed by March 2022.

Through the Study, Marubeni, Iwatani, Deloitte Tohmatsu and Nippon Steel P&E will contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society and a carbon-free society in Kansai Region.

■Flowchart for the Study

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