Air Liquide and 10 Japanese companies join forces to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen energy in Japan

Air Liquide and 10 large Japanese companies, representing several industries and finance, announce the creation of the “Japan H2 Mobility” consortium for the purpose of accelerating the deployment in Japan of hydrogen stations and fuel cell electric vehicles. The 11 founding companies will contribute, in connection with the stated ambition of the Japanese government,¹ to the development of a large-scale hydrogen infrastructure in order to build a network of 320 stations by 2025, and 900 by 2030.

Today, there are about 100 stations already in operation in Japan. Initially, the 11 member companies of the “Japan H2 Mobility” consortium will target to provide 80 new hydrogen stations, over the next four years, which will serve to recharge a fleet of nearly 40,000 hydrogen-powered electric cars. Air Liquide for its part will install and operate around twenty stations by 2021.

Hydrogen is an alternative solution for addressing the challenge of clean transportation and thus contributing to the improvement in air quality. Used in a fuel cell, hydrogen combines with the oxygen in air to produce electricity, with water as the only by-product. Air Liquide masters the entire hydrogen supply chain, from production and storage to distribution and the development of applications for end users. To date, the Group has designed and installed 100 hydrogen stations around the world.

François Darchis, Senior Vice President and member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, supervising Innovation, commented: “We look forward to accompanying Japan, a country where we have been present for more than a century, in its “towards a hydrogen society" strategy. Our commitment to the "Japan H2 Mobility" consortium is in line with our actions to support the hydrogen energy. This alliance, which brings financial investors together for the first time alongside infrastructure developers and car manufacturers, is contributing to the construction of a sustainable business model for hydrogen, crucial for ensuring the successful transition to a carbon-free society.”

¹ Pursuant to the strategic roadmap presented by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on March 22, 2016.