The Japanese government has updated its hydrogen consumption targets and announced that it will invest 15 trillion yen (US$107.5 billion) over the next 15 years to ensure supply will be adequate.

In 2017, the government released its Basic Hydrogen Strategy, with a target to reach 3 million tonnes of consumption by 2030 (supply currently sits at 2 million tonnes/year) and 20 million tonnes by 2050; a target of 12 million tonnes by 2040 has now been added. This is not an augmentation of the targets for consumption, but rather the addition of an intermediate target. The news does however constitute a reaffirming of the country’s commitment to the elemental gas.

Of the 15 trillion yen in investment, 6-8 trillion is to come from the government itself, and the rest from private sources; the plan is that part of the spending will help Japanese companies provide electrolyser technology around the world.