Air Liquide, Itochu to scale up Japan hydrogen mobility markets

Partners’ objective is to expand the hydrogen retail infrastructure in Japan for passengers and commercial end-users.

Air Liquide Japan and Itochu Corporation (Itochu) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development of hydrogen mobility markets in Japan, according to a company’s press release.

Air Liquide Japan and Itochu will initially focus on the development of the hydrogen retail infrastructure in Japan, both for passenger vehicles and for the new fleets of commercial vehicles (trucks, busses). The objective is to expand this retail infrastructure and develop a competitive hydrogen supply offer for passenger and commercial end-users, in collaboration with public authorities, allowing a rapid ramp-up of hydrogen mobility in Japan.

This collaboration will leverage the expertise and technologies of Air Liquide across the hydrogen supply chain and the large footprint of Itochu Group across multiple energy sectors, from fuel retail business to renewable energy production plants.

This collaboration comes after the recent announcement by the Japanese Government of the Green Society plan, to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, in which hydrogen is anticipated to take a key role.

Air Liquide Group has developed the hydrogen supply chain, and has installed more than 120 hydrogen stations around the world. In Japan, the group has constructed 13 hydrogen station since 2015.