On December 14, 2020, Iwatani Corporation together with Kawasaki Heavy Industries started to examine the production/liquefaction/import business of hydrogen from a renewable energy with the major iron ore producer of Australia.
Toward the realization of a decarbonized society, the utilization of hydrogen energy is now drawing people’s attention, for which Australia having abundant resources of renewable energies is promoting with united efforts of government and private sector the project related to hydrogen derived from a renewable energy.
　The counterpart for Iwatani and Kawasaki Heavy Industries at this time is the Australian Fortescue Metals Group which is the fourth largest iron ore producer in the world, aiming for expansion of the renewable energy business posting a target to attain an actual zero emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
The group which possesses also port and harbor infrastructures mainly in Australia for its export of iron ore has participated in the examinations with Iwatani and Kawasaki Heavy Industries regarding the exporting business of hydrogen derived from renewable energies this time. From now on the three companies will invite partners with whom they promote the business for commercialization.
In Australia Iwatani is promoting with Kawasaki Heavy Industries the project of liquefying hydrogen from brown coal and transporting it to Japan. Likewise, they are examining to import hydrogen derived from renewable energies with an Australian electric power company.
To realize a decarbonized society a great deal of hydrogen will be required in case of applying hydrogen to power generation or industrial processes. Furthermore, it will be necessary to procure a substantial volume of green hydrogen (hydrogen from a renewable energy) free from CO2 emission in the future.
Iwatani is planning to proceed with projects to build up a large-scaled hydrogen supply chain and look for partners on a global basis in the future.