Toyota Tsusho, Eurus Energy, and Iwatani collaborate on hydrogen project

The project has been recently certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under the ‘Support Focusing on the Price Gap scheme based on the Hydrogen Society Promotion Act, which supports the use of low-carbon hydrogen, etc. for a smooth transition to a decarbonised growth-oriented economic structure.’ The companies will proceed by discussing the start of an onsite low-carbon hydrogen production and supply project at Aichi Steel Corp.'s Chita Plant (Tokai, Aichi Prefecture), aiming to commence operations around 2030.

Background

Low-carbon hydrogen derived from renewable energy is expected to be an important energy source for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. However, the production and supply of hydrogen still face many challenges in terms of cost and regulatory frameworks, posing barriers to its widespread adoption.

Against this backdrop, the government has established a project plan certification system and support measures based on the Hydrogen Society Promotion Act, which came into effect in October 2024. A support measure focusing on the price gap provides a subsidy scheme that compensates for the gap between the production cost of low-carbon hydrogen, etc., and existing raw material and fuel prices.

With institutional support by the government for the supply and use of hydrogen now fully launched, collaboration among relevant parties, mainly in the industrial sector, is expected to be further promoted, accelerating efforts toward the early realisation of a hydrogen society.

Overview of the Project

In this project, a water electrolysis system (planned to adopt the system produced and sold by Chiyoda Corporation using Toyota Motor Corporation’s stacks) that produces hydrogen will be installed on the premises of Aichi Steel’s Chita Plant. Using electricity from wind power plants owned by Eurus Energy, low-carbon hydrogen will be produced and supplied onsite. At Aichi Steel, this hydrogen will be used in place of natural gas in some of the heating furnaces for steel and iron materials.

The three companies will establish a joint company in March 2027. After engineering and installing the equipment, they will build a system capable of producing and supplying approximately 1600 tpy of hydrogen, aiming to commence operations around 2030.

Through the project, the three companies will build an optimal onsite low-carbon hydrogen production and supply model and, by improving the performance and functionality of water electrolysis technology, contribute to creating a hydrogen society promoted by the government. In addition, the project is positioned as an important initiative to promote the social implementation of hydrogen in the Chubu region, Japan. As first movers, the three companies will also collaborate with the Chubu Region Hydrogen and Ammonia Social Implementation Promotion Council to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/01102025/toyota-tsusho-eurus-energy-and-iwatani-collaborate-on-hydrogen-project/