The Japanese Government’s Green Innovation Fund has committed JPY220bn ($1.6bn) to the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project aimed at exporting hydrogen from Victoria, Australia to Japan.

H2 View understands the funds will be made available to Japan Susio Energy (JSE), comprising Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Iwatani Corporation to facilitate exports of hydrogen produced through newly formed J-Power and Sumitomo Corporation joint venture, JPSC JV.

J-Power and Sumitomo are set to study the feasibility of hydrogen production from coal with carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, which could produce up to 30,000 tonnes per year.