Tokyo: Japan Inc has set the wheels in motion for a future energy mix involving hydrogen and to this end the nation’s shipbuilders are coming up with innovative designs for ships to haul this gas.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries is plowing ahead with preparation work for its first liquid nitrogen carrier involving cryogenic tanks, scheduled for 2020 while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is working on designs in conjuction with Chiyoda Corporation. Last October, MHI won approval in principle from ClassNK for its H2/CO2 floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit design
Development of hydrogen infrastructure in Japan is fast developing this year. Auto firms Toyota, Nissan and Honda have agreed to work together to help accelerate the development of hydrogen station infrastructure for fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) in Japan.
The Japanese government has announced it will spend $385m on fuel-cell vehicle subsidies and hydrogen stations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hydrogen makes sense for the Japanese – a society that embraces green living. In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, CO2 emissions have hit record highs in the past year.
