On April 17, a hydrogen station using liquid hydrogen (LH2) for the first time in the Metropolitan area was established at the south side on the foot of Tokyo Tower. The opening ceremony held on 13th of the station annexed to “TOYOTA MIRAI SHOWROOM” was attended by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Minister of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoichi Miyazawa, Hiroshige Seko assistant to the Chief Cabinet Secretary and Nobuhiro Maeda Deputy Governor of Tokyo as well as all related companies. It meant that great expectations were placed on the station as a base for the transmission of information under the slogan of “Realization of Hydrogen Society from Tokyo” on the verge of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The station named “Iwatani H2 Station Shiba Park” of Iwatani is equipped with an LH2 tank with a capacity of 24kℓ to fill 300 or more FCVs, which is towering at the rear side of the showroom. Liquid hydrogen is sent to the Linde Ionic Compressor through the vaporizer, and pressurized up to 82MPa through 5 steps for storing into the gas preservation facility of 300 liters x 3 (legally permitted volume: 751 m3). It is ultimately sent to the dispensers by pipelines running below. The piping part is ditch-shaped having gratings on the top to enable visual checking. Two hydrogen dispensers are provided. FCVs can stop at either front or back side of the dispensers, allowing full filling (approx. 5Kg) in three minutes at the filling pressure of 70MPa. The filling capacity is 340Nm3/h (6 vehicles filled full per hour). It is most characteristic that the station stands next to the MIRAI SHOWROOM where users of the station may possibly discuss business for cars. The showroom is entirely glass-walled and two-storied, with its white ferrous columns featuring an H-shaped emboss at intervals.

The second floor provides a space for business talks furnished with sofas and stools. The first floor is designed to be a concept space where a large vertically-long screen is provided from the floor to the ceiling to present images all the time. A blue MIRAI is demonstrated in front of the screen.
The screen introduces hydrogen as an environmentally-friendly energy not in a way of commercial message. True to the reputation of Toyota Motor which works so well on image strategies for individuals seeking quality cars, a space in a classy atmosphere is presented with the graphic image making us feel so close to the space and hydrogen and its well-matched collaboration of the blue MIRAI.


At the left side of the entrance you can see Toshiba’s co-generation system over through the glass window which visually introduces that part of electricity for the showroom is procured by the FC generation using the pure hydrogen from the pipeline.

As for Iwatani, its hydrogen business so far focused mainly on industrial plants is now expanding to include a consumer-oriented business dealing with management of the station at this time. So, in the opening ceremony Iwatani has paid attention to use of image-building costume for its staff-members adopting the blazer jackets designed by Mieko Uesako and the beige filling uniform. In the filling ceremony Premier Abe addressed saying, “Here comes the opening of hydrogen facility in the center of cosmopolitan area. Japan has surely attained the position of front runner for the hydrogen energy revolution. With the decision to develop 76 hydrogen stations all over Japan we will empower to step on the accelerator of hydrogen revolution.” Chairperson Makino of Iwatani gave a boost saying, “Thanks to the large deregulation implemented by Abe administration, the door leading to hydrogen society to be opened. Heading toward realization of hydrogen society, we will utilize this new station as a landmark.”

The Shiba Park H2 Station is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, closing on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.

The selling price of hydrogen is JPY1,100 per kg (excluding tax).