Hydro Edge, a combined plant of liquid hydrogen (LH2) and air separation gas owned by joint venture of Iwatani, Kansai Electric and Sakai LNG, will increase its LH2 production capacity up to 9,000ℓ/h (equivalent to 1.5 times of the current capacity) by July 2019.
The investment amount has not been disclosed, but it is estimated to be a level of several billion yen.

The enhancement at this time includes the expansion of the LH2 production line inside the plant from the current two systems to three systems of 3,000ℓ/h each. The expanded systems are added by a liquefier made by Linde (3,000ℓ/h) and a set of production/supply facilities including a storage tank. 　

Hydro Edge has been in operation as Japan’s first LH2 production base for commercial use since 2004, with which Iwatani has been engaged as the only LH2 supplier in Japan. Apart from Hydro Edge, there are Iwatani Industrial Gas’ Chiba Plant (Ichihara City, Chiba Pref.) and Yamaguchi Liquid Hydrogen (Shunan City, Yamaguchi Pref.) which is a joint venture with Tokuyama. Yamaguchi Liquid Hydrogen is also increasing one more system in order to have two systems capable to produce 6,000ℓ/h for a planned completion in November this year.

When Hydro Edge’s expansion at this time is completed, Iwatani’s capacity to supply LH2 will increase to 18,000 ℓ/h with six system lines combined with one line of Iwatani’s Chiba Plant. According to Iwatani’s Public Relations Department, a substantial increase of future demand for LH2 is expected owing to the prospective diffusion of FCVs or FC buses and Iwatani will keep endeavoring its stable supply of LH2.