Engineering for a better future

J-Power Latrobe Valley engineer, Kanako Nagayama is driven to use her engineering skills and expertise to create a cleaner future for younger generations.

J-Power Engineer Kanako Nagayama. Photo courtesy of J-Power Latrobe Valley.
J-Power Engineer Kanako Nagayama. Photo courtesy of J-Power Latrobe Valley.

Kanako (Kana) Nagayama is driven to use her engineering skills and expertise to create a cleaner future for younger generations.

Working as a Process Engineer on the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project, Kana is very much looking forward to seeing the fuel of the future being used as a clean energy source around the world.

Working for J-Power Latrobe Valley, Kana has been enjoying the challenge of being part of the team responsible for turning Latrobe Valley coal into hydrogen gas and ensuring it is pure enough for liquefaction.

“The most interesting part of working on this project has been working with the team to find the most efficient way to gasify Latrobe Valley brown coal. We’ve been doing experiments with different seams to make the maximum amount of pure hydrogen, with minimum energy. It’s challenging work, but we’ve made really exciting progress.”

With over five years’ experience working in power plant design throughout the world, Kana is part of the operations data analysis team on the HESC Project.

As part of her day-to-day work, Kana reviews operations data from gasification and gas refining activity to determine the efficiency of the Latrobe Valley plant. She is also in charge of recording the amounts of hydrogen that are loaded into the tube-trailer during every operation.

“I enjoy generating ideas for improving the plan through every operation we run,” Kana says.

When asked what about the future of hydrogen excites her most, Kana shared that the rapid development of clean hydrogen that has potential to be a future fuel source for cars, houses and industry without emissions being created.

“I’m really happy to see pure hydrogen being produced and loaded onto the tube-trailer in front of me.”

Kana enjoys living in Australia and experiencing the beautiful countryside, meeting friendly people and playing tennis as often as she can. She is a regular at Traralgon Tennis Club, playing every weekend with her friends and colleagues.

Kana forward to working with J-Power Latrobe Valley on HESC moving towards commercialisation over coming years and contributing to the development of technology for the benefit of society.

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