Japan: Demonstrating Global Leadership in Pioneering Innovative Energy Technologies at the Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition

● Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition emerges as a crucial platform for facilitating and showcasing collaborations between energy giants and will highlight Japan's role as a global leader in pioneering innovative energy technologies.

● The 50% C-suite attendance makes the Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition one of the most international leadership events in Japan

● Notable companies slated to attend at Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition include ADNOC, bp, Chevron, Cheniere, ExxonMobil, ENGIE, JERA, Tokyo Gas and Kraken.

● Japan NRG published its ‘Hydrogen Demand in Japan’ report, a comprehensive exploration of the pivotal role hydrogen plays in Japan’s energy transition, which provides a sample of the insights expected to be released at the Summit next week.

Tokyo – Japan's energy landscape is rapidly evolving, with a spotlight on hydrogen. Once dominant, "grey hydrogen" faces a decline as Japan pivots towards greener alternatives, embracing green hydrogen and ammonia as key elements in its low-carbon future. With ambitious targets set for 2030, the nation is at the forefront of sustainable energy initiatives. As the global demand for cleaner energy solutions grows, Japan's strategic shift underscores its commitment to environmental stewardship and economic innovation.

The upcoming Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition, scheduled from 3-5 June 2024 at Tokyo Big Sight, will serve as a critical platform to address Japan's strategic shift towards greener energy alternatives, particularly green hydrogen and ammonia, in line with its stringent targets for 2030.

Keynote speakers, government officials, and industry leaders will convene to discuss Asia's growing role in global climate leadership and sustainable energy solutions. Notable companies slated to attend the Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition include ADNOC, bp, Chevron, Cheniere, ExxonMobil, ENGIE, JERA, Tokyo Gas and Kraken.

Charles Oppenheimer, the grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer and Founder of Oppenheimer Energy Ventures, will also be attending the summit and contributing to its legacy of innovation and forward-thinking by a keynote address on Tuesday, 4 June (Tuesday), from 17:30 to 17:45 Japan Standard Time (JST).

Yuriy Humber, Founder, Japan NRG, stated: “Japan spearheads energy innovation amidst evolving landscapes of technology, regulation, and net-zero goals. The 'Hydrogen Demand in Japan' report, rooted in METI's strategy, explores hydrogen's pivotal role, and promises insights for the energy value chain.”

These companies will be part of the collaborative contributions propelling the energy transition within the exhibition and through the extensive dialogues during the summit sessions. The convergence of industry leaders and innovators at the Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition highlights the importance of partnerships across sectors to achieve a carbon-neutral future.

Decarbonisation in the Asia-Pacific Region 

Recognising countries’ diverse energy mixes, the Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition will support the creation of practical roadmaps for energy transitions, from which other regions and territories can take notes.  

Japanese trading firm ITOCHU Corporation and Malaysia’s Malakoff Corporation Berhad are already aiming to decarbonise power plants in Malaysia by the reduction of coal usage via ammonia co-firing and developing a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine plant that uses hydrogen converted from ammonia. This aims to contribute to decarbonisation by supplying the power plant and also a nearby industrial complex.

According to the “Hydrogen Demand In Japan Report By Japan NRG”, an exclusive report created in advance of the event, ammonia-coal co-firing is spreading faster in the power sector that runs larger coal power plants. In 2023, it was highlighted that JERA and Kyushu Electric conducted co-firing demos, and three other regional utilities said they plan either ammonia or hydrogen co-firing. On October 26, 2023, Kobe Steel said that its two 700 MW coal power plants will start 20% ammonia co-firing by 2030, and two other 650 MW plants will follow.

The Hydrogen Strategy update highlights the importance of hydrogen's carbon intensity amidst the global shift towards cleaner energy. Japan, recognising this trend, is actively participating in the transition to cleaner hydrogen. This shift is also reflected in the 2017 strategy, which introduced the concept of "green hydrogen" as a premium, renewables-driven fuel, suggesting that even "grey hydrogen" could attain premium status with carbon offsetting. Currently, Japan's annual production of grey hydrogen stands at 1.9 million tons, with the government aiming for 3 million tons/year of hydrogen availability by 2030.

Amidst these developments, there is growing optimism surrounding ammonia as a viable solution. Key businesses in Yamaguchi are planning to establish a 1 million ton/year ammonia supply chain. The Japan Clean Ammonia Fuel Association anticipates a significant surge in ammonia demand by 2030, driven primarily by 20% co-firing, equivalent to 500,000 tons/year of hydrogen. Furthermore, the updated government strategy expands hydrogen's role beyond fuel to include raw materials for synthetic methane, synthetic fuel, and carbon recycling, sparking innovation in diverse industries such as synthetic textiles and plastics production.

Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, the report also noted that countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, have already begun researching and studying the use of ammonia co-firing, with Taiwan becoming the seventh Asia-Pacific nation to join the group of nations.

Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, organiser of the event, said: “The Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition is set to be a platform to facilitate and showcase collaborations between energy giants. We strongly believe in the need for global partnerships to achieve a carbon-neutral future, and this event will reiterate Japan's role as a global leader in pioneering innovative energy. Despite challenges, Japan is evidently paving the way for energy transition in the region; All eyes are on Japan, and there is much we can learn from them.”

Limited delegate passes to the conferences at the Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition remain. For more information: www.japanenergyevent.com