Debunking Japan’s Hydrogen Leadership

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

Hydrogen on Two Wheels

Inpex Explores Australia Green Hydrogen Hubs

Woven City Reveals New Hydrogen Cartridge

Greenwashing the Australia-Japan Hydrogen Chain

Nuclear-Powered Production of Green Hydrogen

Recent Articles

Kyoto Police Arrest Online Casino Operators

Akihabara News (Tokyo) -- Kyoto Prefectural Police and other authorities announced the arrest of seven individuals last month, including 36-year-old Randall Aaron...

Japan Space Program Gets Its Groove Back

Akihabara News (Tokyo) -- After a series of embarrassing stumbles, Japan's space program is putting some wins on the board again.

Wakayama Signs Pact on Flying Cars

Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Wakayama Governor Shuhei Kishimoto made it clear at a press conference on January 30 that his administration is...

Qualified Success for Japan’s Moon Landing

Akihabara News (Tokyo) -- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) declared success in its "main mission" of conducting a Moon landing near...

Pioneering Hoverbike Firm Goes Belly Up

Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Japan's most prominent hoverbike company, A.L.I. Technologies, has filed for bankruptcy. Although the firm reports that it hopes...

Related Stories