Accelerated hydrogen station network through public-private sector joint efforts

Abstract

Since hydrogen can be a trump card for Japan’s future energy security and measures against global warming, hydrogen as a transportation fuel has also been positioned as an important item in energy policy in Japan. For about twenty years since the limited sale of fuel cell vehicles started in 2002, Japan has been consistently promoting the technical and social demonstration as well as commercialization of hydrogen stations through the joint efforts of the public and private sectors. During this period, there was a stage when the construction of hydrogen stations has stagnated. However, after the establishment of Japan H2 Mobility, an industry collaborative where the government and the industry strengthened their commitment, the number of hydrogen stations started to rise again, and financial investors and local small and medium-sized enterprises have also been entering the hydrogen station business. With the aim of making the hydrogen station business self-sustaining in the latter half of the 2020s, it will be indispensable to maintain the management that balances competition and cooperation within the industry while working together as a public and private sector.