On 26 Nov 2021, Yokohama Mayor YAMANAKA Takeharu announced that Yokohama has concluded a memorandum with ENEOS Corporation to conduct a study on a potential business collaboration for the development of a hydrogen supply chain in Yokohama’s waterfront area.
Ports in Japan handle 99.6% of total import and export cargo, and the industries that account for about 60% of Japan’s carbon dioxide emissions are located chiefly around port areas. Therefore, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT, Japan) is planning to convert Japanese ports into Carbon Neutral Ports.
The Port of Yokohama is working to become a Carbon Neutral Port by improving port functions with consideration for decarbonization to implement the low-cost import of large-volumes of next-generation fuel such as hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon-neutral methane.
ENEOS was originally the Oil Refinery of Japan, but now aims to be an Asia’s leading integrated energy company expanding throughout the globe. In anticipation of a hydrogen-oriented society aiming for decarbonization, ENEOS is striving to develop a CO2-free hydrogen supply chain in Japan and overseas. Outside Japan, a wide range of alliances in Australia, the Middle East, and Asia are being utilized to implement verification for the realization of a large-scale supply of cost-competitive hydrogen.
In the study, the City of Yokohama and ENEOS will jointly examine the potential for the stable supply of affordable hydrogen via pipelines in Yokohama’s waterfront area. The City of Yokohama will strive to achieve a Carbon Neutral Port by 2050 and contribute to the realization of the SDGs.