Iwatani, Kansai Electric Power and Marubeni will launch into the production of green hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources. It is planned that the production of green hydrogen will start in the State of Queensland, Australia and the product will be exported to Japan as fuel for thermal power plants in 2030 or so. The volume of hydrogen production will be expanded step-by-step so that it may reach 800 tons per day in 2031 or later.
　
On May 26, the three companies signed an agreement with Stanwell of Queensland’s public energy corporation and Keppel Corporation of Singaporean energy company to draw a basic design of the hydrogen business for export to Japan which starts with the production of green hydrogen and its liquefaction for transportation at the Gladstone Region, Queensland. An estimated cost for the basic design is set to amount to A$117 million (roughly equivalent to 10.53 billion yen) and it has been decided to have an aid of funding by the Australian Government for A$20 million (equivalent to 1.8 billion yen)

In this project, taking advantage of the abundant renewable energy of Queensland blessed with fine weather which lasts for 300 days or more a year, it is assumed that 200 tons/day (70,000 tons/year) of green hydrogen will be produced in and after 2028 and 800 tons /day (260,000 tons/year) in 2031 or later.

The plant is planned to utilize a land of 235 ha located at Aldoga Area of Gladstone Region procured by Stanwell and also a land of about 50 ha for hydrogen liquefaction and cargo-loading plant at Fisherman’s landing place of Gladstone Harbor. These two bases are planned to be connected by a hydrogen pipeline having an approximate total length of 25 meter.

The produced green H2 will be supplied at first to the ammonia synthesizing facilities which Keppel and the Australian chemical manufacturers are planning to start in 2028 or so, and then will be exported to Japan, concretely to KEPKO’s thermal power plant in Himeji Area and neighboring consumers. In accordance with the volume of demand, a supply capacity of the plant will be expanded.