Air Liquide Japan is going to build a hydrogen station of 24-hour operation throughout the year (365 days) in Motomiya City, Fukushima Prefecture for the first time in Japan under the name of “Air Liquide Motomiya Interchange H2 Station”.

The station will be Air Liquide Japan’s first hydrogen station based on the joint operation agreed with Itochu and Itochu Enex in 2021. On September 5, Air Liquide Japan and the two companies visited Masao Uchibori Governor of Fukushima Prefecture, when they had a press meeting and were interviewed by the local TV station.

The H2 station will be constructed as an FC truck filling station attached to the truck station run by Enex Fleet affiliated by Itochu Enex which is located along the Expressway R4 near Motomiya Interchange. As the booster of H2　station is subject to the statutory inspection, the station is equipped with two lines of compressor, refrigerator and dispenser so that the inspection time can be shifted to enable a 365-day continuous operation.

Governor Uchibori spoke powerfully, “Regarding the diffusion of FCV and the development of station, there is a debate of which comes first, the chicken or the egg, but the station comes first in Fukushima Prefecture. We make an administrative support for the development of infrastructure. The people of Fukushima Prefecture have so distinguishing need to utilize hydrogen that the prefecture is going to expand such advantages of hydrogen from the prefecture to a nationwide scope.”

President Shunji Masuda of Enex Fleet added, “We have 150 direct retailers and 280 light oil stations across the country. Our fleet station plays a role to function as a place to adjust time and for driver’s resting. We wish to also operate H2 stations in the meantime. We would like to first make accumulation of new knowledge in cooperation with Air Liquide Japan.”

In Fukushima Prefecture, Toyota as well as the prefecture will cooperate to utilize 60 FC trucks to deliver goods to the regional supermarkets and convenience stores from January next year. Motomiya City is located at the northernmost within the metropolitan area and also the transportation hub of Tohoku Expressway which is a gateway to the Tohoku District. It also has abundant logistics bases for things including agricultural products and there are delivery depots of convenience stores near the planned place for the construction too.

The station is subsidized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and utilizes the fund of the prefecture named “H2 Energy Diffusion and Expansion Project of Fukushima” of Fukushima Prefecture aiming at opening in the first half of 2024.

President and CEO Virginie Cavalli of Air Liquide Japan said, “I thank Fukushima Prefecture and the METI. Now that the four partners strive together, there is nothing to fear. Leave hydrogen station to us.”