Asahi Kasei joins the Japan Hydrogen Forum to support decarbonisation in the USA

 Asahi Kasei has joined the Japan Hydrogen Forum (JH2F), which was established to support the decarbonisation goals of US federal, state and local governments. The company will advance activities as a member of the Hydrogen Production Committee, one of the five subcommittees of JH2F. 

JH2F was established by 15 Japan-affiliated companies with hydrogen-related operations in the US to support the decarbonisation goals of the US. Activities are performed in five sectoral subcommittees for hydrogen production, land transportation, port decarbonisation, power generation and finance, supported by the Japanese government and affiliated governmental organisations such as the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI). 

Hydrogen-related business is one of Asahi Kasei’s “10 Growth Gears” (GG10), businesses to lead the next phase of growth in fields of focus as part of its medium-term management plan for fiscal year 2024 focused on the theme “Be a Trailblazer.” Asahi Kasei is currently advancing its hydrogen-related business centered on the alkaline water electrolysis system for hydrogen production developed utilising its experience and expertise gained with the membrane process for chlor-alkali electrolysis. 

Asahi Kasei installed a large 10 MW-scale alkaline water electrolysis system at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R) as part of a NEDO project and performed several trial operations since 2020. Based on the technological achievements obtained at FH2R, Asahi Kasei plans to commercialise a larger-scale alkaline water electrolysis system comprising multiple 10MW modules through various trial operations in the ongoing NEDO/Green Innovation Fund demonstration project of “Green hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolysis system,” which was awarded in 2021.

Through the activities in Japan Hydrogen Forum, Asahi Kasei will contribute to the establishment of hydrogen society together with various governmental and non-governmental organisations and corporations related to the hydrogen value chain in the US by promoting collaboration and making proposals. Asahi Kasei will also build business in the US for large-scale alkaline water electrolysis systems and their after-sales and technical services by leveraging the relationships gained across the value chain. 

Image caption: The Fukushima hydrogen energy research field (FH2R), source NEDO