hydrogen. Building an energy sector dominated by alternatives to
fossil fuels will be essential to achieving global carbon neutrality,
according to the IEA’s net-zero roadmap, which highlights
hydrogen as one of the fi elds where technological progress will“The creation of a hydrogen economy can signifi cantly move
the needle against climate change,” says David Crane, who made
a reputation as a renewable energy pioneer while chief executive
of American power company NRG and is now a director of JERA,ADVERTISEMENT
hydrogen.Buildinganenergy sector dominatedby alternativesto
fossilfuelswillbeessentialto achievingglobalcarbonneutrality,
accordingto theIEA’s net-zeroroadmap,whichhighlights
hydrogenasoneofthefieldswhere technologicalprogresswill
havethemostimpact.
“Thecreationofahydrogeneconomycansignificantlymove
theneedleagainstclimatechange,”says David Crane, whomade
areputationasarenewableenergy pioneerwhilechiefexecutive
ofAmericanpowercompanyNRGandisnowadirector ofJERA,
Japan’slargestpower-generationcompany.
Thehydrogeneconomywillbebuiltonadvancesin
production,shippingandindustrialapplications.For example,
Japanispioneeringaglobalsupplynetworkto facilitate
hydrogenbecomingaglobalfuelandreachingoverseasmarkets.
Japanesecompaniesare developinganumberoftransport
andstorage technologiesforhydrogen,suchasliquefaction
andorganic hydrides.InDecember2019, KawasakiHeavy
Industrieslaunchedtheworld’s firstliquefiedhydrogencarrier
ship,theSuisoFrontier.At thermalpowerstationsoperatedby
JERA,demonstrationworkisnowunderwayto switch30%of
theliquefiednatural gas(LNG)usedinfiringgasturbinesto
hydrogen,whichemitsnoCO2, by 2025.
Bydevelopingpracticalapplicationsforhydrogen,Japanwilllighttheway to hydrogenuseatscale,whichwillspu bal
adoptionby drivingdowncosts.Widespreadindustr
ofhydrogenwillreduce emissions,especiallyfrom t wer
andenergy sector, heavy transportandotherhigh-e n
industriesthathave yet to adoptelectrification.“Whomes
to solvingclimatechange,given themagnitudeand ope
oftheproblem,”says MrCrane, “there isnoonesilver bullet,
butthecreationofahydrogeneconomyisdefinitelyoneofthe
magicbullets.”
SUPPORTINGDEVELOPINGCOUNTRIES’
ENERGYTRANSITIONIn the lead-up toCOP26,UNSecretary-GeneralAntonioGuterres
stressed that itisessentialhumanityfulfilsthepromiseofthe
Paris Agreementandlimitstemperaturerisesto 1.5°Cabove
pre-industrial levels.Achievingthisiscomplicatedby therapid
increase in energydemandamongdevelopingcountries,which
the IEA cites asleadinga4.6%increaseinglobaldemandin2021.
Supporting these countries in terms of funding, expertise and
infrastructure, all of which are essential for transitioning to low-
emission energy sources, is vital.
In response, Japan has promised climate fi nance, both
public and private, totalling around US$60 billion between 2021
and 2025 to assist developing countries in combating climate
change. Japan is also making contributions of up to US$3 billion
to the Green Climate Fund, established by the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or COP16.
In addition to fi nancial assistance, Japan also supplies
renewable technologies and technological expertise. For
example, many island nations in the Pacifi c Ocean depend
on diesel fuel for power generation. To reduce emissions and
improve energy security, the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) is implementing the Green Power Island
Program, which not only helps provide renewable energy
systems, such as solar and wind, but imparts technical
knowledge and training to enable locals to maintain a stable
power supply using renewable energy systems.
In the case of Asia, energy consumption is continuing to rise
rapidly in keeping with economic growth. “ASEAN’s transition to
a low-carbon economy is imperative not only to address climate
change but also to enhance the region’s resilience and future
competitiveness,” says ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi.Itisnecessaryforeachcountry to have anenergy-transition
roadmapthatisflexibleandpragmatic,refl ectingitsuniqueneeds
andcircumstances,inorder to achieve bothsustainablegrowth
andcarbonneutrality.JapanhasestablishedtheAsiaEnergy
TransitionInitiative(AETI) specificallyto meetbothneeds.
“ASEANwelcomesJapan’s AETI, whichprovidesfinancial,
technologicalandhumanresourcedevelopmentsupportfor
realisingeffectiveandjustenergy transitionsinASEAN,”explains
MrLim.To bolsterdeploymentoflow-carbonenergy systems,
andtohelpmoveeconomicgrowthawayfromfossilfueluse and
towardsgreen, sustainablepractices,“ASEANmemberstates are
poisedto benefitfrom AETI’s widerange ofsupport.”THEPOWEROFCO-OPERATION
Onlyaholistic,multifacetedapproachto decarbonisationislikely
to succeed.Byleadinginglobalco-operationthrough international
initiativeslike theAETI andGreen Power IslandProgram,while
simultaneouslyfosteringcollaborativeinnovationincritical,
strategicindustriessuchashydrogen,Japanoffers anexample of
theway forward.Andby raising theworld’s chancesofreaching
netzero by 2050,thecountry may helpto avert adeepeningof
today’sclimatecrisis.More renewabletechnologypatentapplications
come fromJapanthananyothercountry
Patent applicationsfortechnologiesrelatedtorenewable
technology (2010to2019)
9,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
7,000
5,000
3,000
1,000
Source: WorldIntellectualPropertyOrganisation, 2020
Japan US Germany Rep.Korea China“ASEAN welcomes Japan’s AETI, which
provides fi nancial, technological and
human resource development support.”
Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general, ASEAN