The Japan Steel Works (JSW) developed TypeⅠsteel accumulator adopting the Cr-Mo seamless pipes made by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC), which is used as a large-capacity steel accumulator for H2 stations. The cost of accumulator can be lowered by about 30% than the conventional TypeⅠsteel accumulator because of its nearly halved weight. They say it is the world-first case to adopt mass-produced seamless pipes under the high-pressure (99MPa) hydrogen environment. The accumulator will be launched into the market in May.

With the development of the light-weight and low-cost (30% lower but targeting 50% reduction in future) product comparing with the initial type, JSW is aiming at the introduction of its accumulator by the majority of the 720 locations of H2 station by 2030 which is targeted by the government. The container of TypeⅠaccumulator is entirely made of metal (low-alloy steel). For reference the low-alloy body of TypeⅡ is wrapped with an FRP liner, TypeⅢ has a body of aluminum or similar metal wrapped with an FRP liner and the plastic body of Type Ⅳ is wrapped with an FRP liner.

JSW has been manufacturing as TypeⅠaccumulator the initial type of design coefficient of 4 and also 3 (both 4 and 3 having a design pressure of 99 to115MPa) which employs forged steel SA723 of high-strength steel. Since 2014, JSW has delivered it to nearly half of the existing domestic H2 stations and also exported to overseas H2 stations. JSW is planning to sell also a packaged unit combining its accumulator with a compact compressor for small-scale H2 stations. Stainless steel HRX19® which is developed for use with high pressure hydrogen by NSSMC will be employed as a piping material.