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 of liquefied hydrogen extracted from Latrobe Valley coal. This achievement proved the HESC Project’s technical viability and the basis for Project Partners to progress to creating a Liquefied Hydrogen Supply Chain Commercial Demonstration Project between Victoria and Japan.
On March 6th, after a review of several potential projects in Australia and around the world, Japan Suiso Energy (JSE) confirmed it had chosen to allocate the Japanese Government’s Green Innovation Fund (GIF) grant of ¥220 billion Japanese Yen (approximately AU$2.35 billion) to the commercial demonstration phase of Victoria’s HESC Project. The grant was originally allocated to Japan Suiso Energy, Iwatani Corporation and ENEOS in August 2021.
The commercial demonstration project will be delivered by two consortia.
First will be J-POWER and Sumitomo Corporation, who will form a joint-venture to produce clean hydrogen via extraction from Latrobe Valley coal with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) in the Bass Strait. Read their statement here
The other is Japan Suiso Energy (JSE), comprised of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Iwatani Corporation, who will purchase clean hydrogen from the J-POWER/Sumitomo Corporation project and will be responsible for liquefaction at the Port of Hastings and trans-oceanic shipment from Victoria to Japan. Read their statement here.
At a potential future scale of 225,000 tonnes per year, the HESC Project has the potential to reduce global CO2 emissions by 1.8 million tonnes/year, equivalent to taking approximately 350,000 petrol engine cars off the road and create about 1,000 jobs per year in Victoria
For more information on hydrogen liquefaction and transportation, please visit https://www.japansuisoenergy.com/en/.
All news and updates will continue to be published on this website and enquiries can be sent to [email protected].


Urgent Emissions Reductions
In a commercial phase, HESC will reduce global CO2 emissions by 1.8 million tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.

An Advanced Hydrogen Project
HESC is Australia’s most advanced hydrogen project; and the first project in the world to make, liquefy and transport liquid hydrogen by sea to an international market.

Jobs
In a commercial phase, HESC could create 30,000 jobs in the Latrobe Valley and Mornington Peninsula regions.
HESC’S Vision
The world-first Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project aims to safely produce and transport clean liquid hydrogen from Australia’s Latrobe Valley in Victoria to Kobe in Japan.
The project has the potential to be a game-changer – providing an innovative, economically viable and environmentally conscious solution to producing clean hydrogen safely, through gasification of coal with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Latest News
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Japan’s Green Innovation Fund selects J-Power/Sumitomo Corporation Joint Venture as preferred hydrogen producer
An Australian joint venture between Japanese organisations J-Power and Sumitomo Corporation (JPSC JV) has been selected as the preferred hydrogen provider to Japan Suiso Energy (JSE). The clean hydrogen gas will be produced in Gippsland, Victoria and JSE will liquify the hydrogen for export to Japan. The JV will produce the clean hydrogen, extracted from…
Japan commits AUD$2.35 billion to establish world’s first liquefied hydrogen supply chain
Australia’s most advanced clean hydrogen project, the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project in Victoria, has entered the commercial demonstration phase with the commitment of JPY220 billion approximately AUD$2.35 billion, in funding from the Japanese Government’s Green Innovation Fund. The funds will be delivered via Japan Suiso Energy (JSE) comprising Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Iwatani…
Scheme to deliver certainty on hydrogen’s carbon intensity
What is a guarantee of origin scheme: The purpose of a global Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme is to provide key information about the carbon intensity of hydrogen produced along with method and location of production. It will enable transparency and certainty about the amount of carbon associated with each kilogram or tonne of hydrogen…