Japan and the European Union will collaborate to develop international standards for the hydrogen supply chain, according to reports.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on research and development assistance, safety and price support, Japanese and EU agencies will cover areas including technologies for producing and transporting the fuel.
Nikkei Asia reported that Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Ken Saito, and Kadri Simson, the European Commissioner for Energy, will agree to create a joint road map for hydrogen usage through 2040 at an upcoming meeting.
Both Japan and the EU will share data in electrolysers and discuss standards for hydrogen purity, with discussions on specific standard concepts expected to begin this summer (2024).
The agreement is understood to support Japan’s hydrogen ambitions. The Japanese Government announced plans to invest ¥15 trillion ($107.67bn) in hydrogen over the next 15 years in 2023.
Read more:Japan plans $107bn of hydrogen investments under strategy revision
The hydrogen supply is to be boosted from its current level of two million tonnes to 12 million tonnes by 2040, according to local reports. Under the revised plan, the country will focus on electrolysis development, fuel storage batteries and large-scale tankers for hydrogen transport.