Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Japan was the first country in the world to openly formulate a renewable hydrogen strategy, but the country is now falling behind some of its competitors, according to a new report from the Tokyo-based Renewable Energy Institute.
Japan introduced the idea of a “hydrogen society” some years ago, noting that the nation “is in a good position to take on the challenge of bringing about innovation ahead of other countries and should lead the globe in hydrogen use.”
Japanese leadership, however, has not panned out as hoped–China, Germany, and Australia have begun providing subsidies for companies using climate-friendly green hydrogen.
In Japan’s case, the report contends, there has been a misguided prioritization of the production of grey hydrogen–produced from natural gas or methane, without capturing the greenhouse gases. This is a much cheaper form of hydrogen production, but it is certainly less useful in addressing the climate crisis.
Indeed, according to REI’s calculations, the use of grey hydrogen will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and may even cause them to rise by an additional 10%.
REI also doubts that Japan will prove able to meet the government’s targets for the use of hydrogen vehicles, Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs).
In 2021, the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) predicted in its 6th Hydrogen Strategy Plan that 80,000 FCVs will be sold in Japan by 2030. REI’s report, however, predicts that only about 25% of this mark will be achieved within that time frame.
METI has boasted that “Japan is a leading hydrogen nation” and the government more broadly talks about the coming “hydrogen society,” but recently it has been forced to admit that, in fact, Japan lags behind some other advanced economies in its hydrogen development.
In the words of the REI report, “If Japan does not fundamentally revise its hydrogen strategy, the hydrogen business in Japan may lose its growth potential.”
Recent Hydrogen Related Articles
Inpex Explores Australia Green Hydrogen Hubs
Woven City Reveals New Hydrogen Cartridge