Iwatani is going to produce liquid hydrogen (LH2) in Chiba Refinery of Cosmo Energy Holdings (COSMO HD) with which Iwatani has already established a business and capital alliance. Planning to complete in 2029, the company starts to place an order for the construction of facilities, and intends to reinforce the supplying capacity the anticipated growth of demand for delivery to the energy-related field.

The output capacity of the new plant is 10 tons per day while it has been 5 tons/day per unit in the past. With the doubled capacity established at this time, Iwatani aims to make an efficient production system taking advantage of scale merits. After starting the enhanced capacity, Iwatani will be able to increase the output by 30% reaching 13,000 tons. An investment amount necessary for the liquefying facility and the supply system of hydrogen is estimated to be ¥30 billion.

Iwatani has been anticipating an increase in demand for hydrogen and launching the idea to reinforce the production capacity of hydrogen. In addition to the three locations of liquefying plants in Ichihara, Sakai and Shunan Cities, the company has been gauging timing to build the fourth plant in the metropolitan and Chubu areas.

Iwatani has so far been discussions on various matters regarding business tie-up and collaborative relations with COSMO HD with which it concluded an agreement on business and capital alliance in April this year. The hydrogen production in oil refinery is one of the agreed activities.

Among COSMO HD’s three locations of refineries in Chiba, Yokkaichi and Sakai, the refinery of the metropolitan district has had an issue about renewal of the aged facilities to produce hydrogen, while Iwatani was planning to reinforce the capacity to liquefy hydrogen in the same area. As the demand and expectation of both companies matched, they have decided to produce hydrogen newly.

COSMO HD newly builds up a team reforming equipment (SMR) and Iwatani will liquefy hydrogen from the equipment for supply to the urban area. COSMO HD also utilizes the hydrogen from the SMR.

Iwatani also launched a plan to produce hydrogen derived from waste plastics in Nagoya City of Chubu District other than the metropolitan area. This one was also intended to produce liquefied hydrogen. However. It seems to take more time to proceed with the project. So, they placed priority on the project in Chiba.

Other than the infrastructure of refinery, Iwatani and COSMO HD are carrying out subcommittee discussions each other regarding a variety of themes like the development of service menus in the hydrogen stations and gas station and LPG business office.

There are many themes from the refineries having points of contact such as the recovery of CO2 out of SAF of the cutting-edge low-carbon liquid fuel and exhausted gases as well as CCS for fixing. The future collaboration of the two companies would surely draw people’s attention.