Japan to get hydrogen from Latrobe coal

The Japanese government’s Green Innovation Fund has backed commercialisation of a Victorian coal-to-hydrogen project with $2.35bn to get liquefied hydrogen shipped to Japan.

The news follows a successful demonstration of shipping the liquid hydrogen to Japan.

Commercialisation of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project will each year produce 30,000 tonnes of clean hydrogen extracted from Latrobe Valley coal with CO2 capture and storage facilities in Bass Strait. It will then be liquefied at Port of Hastings and be shipped to the Port of Kawasaki in Japan.

The project was welcomed by the Mining and Energy Union and the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC).

“This significant investment by the Japanese Government is a vote of confidence in Australia’s ability to export hydrogen at commercial scale,” said AHC’s CEO Dr Fiona Simon.

“With a target to increase hydrogen use to three million tonnes a year by 2030 and a strong trade history in energy and resources, Japan is an ideal trade partner to support Australia’s ambition to be a leading hydrogen exporter.”

Learn more: Industry Update