The world-first Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project

The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Pilot Project was successfully completed in February 2022 with the arrival of the Suiso Frontier in Kobe, Japan with a load onboard of liquefied hydrogen extracted from Latrobe Valley coal.

An overview of the successful pilot phase and the associated key milestones can be found in the report.

HESC has been well supported by the Japanese, Australian, and Victorian Governments throughout the pilot phase. 

The realisation of a hydrogen supply chain at commercial scale is being pursued by two consortia.

First is J-POWER and Sumitomo Corporation, to produce clean hydrogen from Latrobe Valley coal with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).

The second is Japan Suiso Energy (JSE), comprised of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Iwatani Corporation, responsible for liquefaction and trans-oceanic shipment to Japan. 

All news and updates will be published on this website and enquiries can be sent to [email protected]. ​

JPower logo
JPower logo
JPower logo
JPower logo
Urgent Emissions Reductions

Carbon Reduction and Sovereign Capability

At full scale, this project will save some 1.8 milliion tonnes per annum (tpa) of CO2 going into the atmosphere, equivalent to the emissions of some 350,000 vehicles. The project will enable Victoria to establish local manufacturing for clean critical products, such as methanol, aviation fuel, and fertiliser, whilst providing local skilled jobs and reducing reliance on imports.

An Advanced Hydrogen Project

An Advanced Hydrogen Project

The project will produce clean hydrogen extracted from Latrobe Valley coal supported by carbon capture, and storage, with a portion used in Victoria and the balance liquefied at the Port of Hastings and then exported to Kawasaki City in Japan. The initial production of stage 1 by 2030 will be 40,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) by JPOWER Sumitomo Corporation Joint Venture, with 10,000 tpa for domestic use, whilst Japan Suiso Energy export the remainder to Japan.

Jobs

Jobs and Investment

Billions of dollars will be invested into Victoria and in addition, with the ongoing export of clean hydrogen, enable Victoria to generate additional revenue streams. The full commercial project will create approximately 2,000 jobs during construction and about 1,000 jobs during operations.

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Latrobe Valley HESC site

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A statement from Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (“Kawasaki”) is committed to the realisation of a commercial scale project to produce clean liquefied hydrogen and transport it to Japan. As part of the development process, Japan Suiso Energy (JSE) was awarded funding from the Japanese Government to progress the commercial demonstration phase (CDP) of the project. A condition of…

J-Power and Sumitomo Corporation Joint Venture (JPSC JV) visits Gippsland for Cultural Awareness Training with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Association

From left to right: Kento Koga, Masahiro Toki, Aki Martland, Wayne Thorpe, Hiroshi Kuwata, Jeremy Stone, Yuki Nishiiri On February 1, key project members from the JPSC JV travelled from Tokyo, Japan to East Gippsland, Victoria to participate in cultural awareness training led by Wayne Thorpe, cultural educator and respected Elder of the Gunai/Kurnai nation….

HESC Project Partners attend Hydrogen Council inaugural Australia-Japan meeting

HESC was well represented at a recent Australian Hydrogen Council meeting by senior executives from Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), J-POWER, and Sumitomo Corporation. KHI Chairman Yoshinori Kanehana, who is also co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, spoke at the breakfast held during the 60th anniversary of the Australia-Japan Business Committee Conference in Melbourne, Australia. The full…

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