Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain

What Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain does

Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) is a cross-border consortium project, headquartered in Tokyo with primary operating assets in Victoria, Australia. It develops a fully integrated liquefied hydrogen supply chain that produces clean hydrogen from Latrobe Valley coal via gasification with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); liquefies it at the Port of Hastings facility to -253°C; and ships it to Japan aboard the Suiso Frontier, the world's first liquefied hydrogen carrier. Its core product set comprises the Latrobe Valley hydrogen production plant, the Port of Hastings liquefaction facility, the Suiso Frontier LH2 carrier, and the Hy Touch Kobe receiving terminal managed by Iwatani. The technology stack is anchored by proprietary Kawasaki Heavy Industries LH2 storage technology adapted from JAXA rocket fuel systems (double-shell vacuum insulation, 0.3%/day boil-off rate) and an ortho-para conversion catalyst co-developed with CSIRO.

HESC operates as a joint project rather than a single corporate entity, with the commercial demonstration phase structured around two consortia: J-POWER and Sumitomo Corporation (production with CCUS) and Japan Suiso Energy, comprising Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Iwatani Corporation (liquefaction and marine transport). The pilot phase was funded at AUD$500 million by Australian, Victorian, and Japanese governments plus private industry partners, and was successfully completed in February 2022 with the arrival of the Suiso Frontier in Kobe. The commercial demonstration phase received an AUD$2.1 billion commitment from Japan's Green Innovation Fund in March 2023, targeting 40,000 tonnes per annum of hydrogen by 2030, scaling to 225,000 tpa at full commercial scale. Targeted off-takers are Japanese utilities and energy companies for power generation and fuel cell vehicles, plus Australian domestic industrial manufacturers (ammonia, methanol, fertiliser, sustainable aviation fuel).

HESC's go-to-market is B2B infrastructure project-based, with revenue mechanics tied to long-term supply contracts between consortium partners; no public pricing exists. The commercial phase is contingent on operational CO2 storage infrastructure (CarbonNet or ExxonMobil Gippsland Basin CCS Hub), positioning the project at the intersection of Australian coal resources, Japanese decarbonisation strategy, and emerging CCS infrastructure.

Name

Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain

Legal name

Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain

Website

https://hydrogenenergysupplychain.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain is a Japan-Australia consortium project building the world's first integrated liquefied hydrogen supply chain, producing clean hydrogen from Latrobe Valley coal with CCUS and shipping it to Japan for industrial and energy off-takers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Hydrogen Supply Chain Infrastructure

NAICS

Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512), Pipeline Transportation of Refined Petroleum Products (486910)

SIC

Petroleum Refining (2911), Natural Gas Transmission (4922)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydrogen Production Supply & Offtake (Green/Blue H2) for Utility Blending (EUAJAJAF), Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC), Hydrogen Storage Terminals, Depots & Bulk Logistics (Siting, Loading/Unloading) (EUAFAEAI), Hydrogen Distribution Pipelines (Local/Regional Networks) (TLAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Clean hydrogen production
• Liquefied hydrogen transport
• Carbon capture storage
• Coal gasification
• Hydrogen supply chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Clean Hydrogen Production and Export: Production and sale of clean hydrogen extracted from Latrobe Valley coal with carbon capture, utilisation and storage. Initial production of 40,000 tpa planned, with 30,000 tpa exported to Japan via liquefaction at Port of Hastings, and 10,000 tpa for domestic Australian market.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HESC produces clean hydrogen from Latrobe Valley coal and biomass through gasification with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), then liquefies the gas at the Port of Hastings facility and transports it as liquefied hydrogen (-253°C) to Kobe, Japan aboard the Suiso Frontier carrier. The project delivered the world's first complete international liquefied hydrogen supply chain and is now planning a commercial demonstration phase targeting 40,000 tonnes per annum of clean hydrogen by 2030.

Product overview

The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project is a multi-phase infrastructure initiative that currently consists of a completed pilot phase demonstrating the world's first liquefied hydrogen supply chain. The integrated system comprises three core facilities: the Latrobe Valley hydrogen production plant (extracting hydrogen from coal and biomass via gasification), the Port of Hastings liquefaction facility (converting hydrogen gas to liquid form at -253°C), and the Suiso Frontier marine carrier (transporting liquefied hydrogen to Japan). The Port of Kobe terminal receives and stores the liquefied hydrogen in Japan. A commercial expansion phase is planned for the 2030s with significantly larger production capacity using carbon capture and storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HESC Pilot Project The integrated pilot hydrogen supply chain that produces clean hydrogen from Latrobe Valley coal and biomass via gasification, liquefies it at Port of Hastings, and ships it to Kobe, Japan aboard the Suiso Frontier. Successfully completed in February 2022 and serves as a reference for the planned commercial demonstration phase.
• Suiso Frontier Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier The world's first liquefied hydrogen carrier vessel, a 116-metre ship with a 1,250 m³ LH2 storage tank, designed and constructed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries to safely transport liquefied hydrogen at -253°C from Port of Hastings, Victoria to Port of Kobe, Japan. Achieves a boil-off rate of 0.3% per day via double-shell vacuum insulation technology.
• Latrobe Valley Hydrogen Production Facility Hydrogen gas production plant located at AGL's Loy Yang Complex in Latrobe Valley, producing hydrogen through coal and biomass gasification and achieving 99.999% purity specification for transportation. Currently in care and maintenance phase with dismantling scheduled to commence in September 2025.
• Port of Hastings Liquefaction Facility Australia's first hydrogen liquefaction facility, converting hydrogen gas to liquefied hydrogen at -253°C and reducing the volume to 1/800th of its gaseous state. Had 0.25 tonne per day liquefaction capacity and a 41 m³ LH2 storage container during the pilot phase. Facility was handed over to Coregas after pilot completion.
• Port of Kobe LH2 Terminal (Hy Touch Kobe) Liquefied hydrogen unloading and storage terminal in Kobe, Japan, featuring the world's first loading arm for unloading liquefied hydrogen and Japan's largest liquefied hydrogen storage tank. Operated and managed by Iwatani Corporation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces global CO2 emissions by 1.8 million tonnes per year at full commercial scale, equivalent to taking 350,000 petrol engine cars off the road
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Iwatani CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Joined Japan Suiso Energy in 2023. Japan's only company with commercial liquefied hydrogen handling experience. Manages Port of Kobe terminal operations. Brings expertise in industrial hydrogen infrastructure.
• Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Japanese shipping company joined JSE Ocean in September 2023 to develop commercial-scale liquefied hydrogen marine transport from Australia to Japan.
• Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Japanese shipping company joined JSE Ocean in September 2023 alongside K-Line and MOL to establish commercial-scale LH2 marine transport.
• INPEX CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Japan's largest exploration and production company. Acquired shares in Japan Suiso Energy in 2023. Brings experience from Ichthys LNG project in Australia for international liquefied energy supply chain development.
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Lead technology developer for liquefied hydrogen storage and transport. Designed and constructed the Suiso Frontier. Established Japan Suiso Energy (JSE) to oversee hydrogen supply chain operations. Developed specialized LH2 tank technology with ultra-high thermal insulation based on JAXA rocket fuel storage experience.
• J-POWER (Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Japanese power utility company (25GW global generation) operating in Latrobe Valley. Manages hydrogen production facility via J-Power Latrobe Valley Pty Ltd. Joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation for commercial hydrogen production with CCUS. Operates Osaki CoolGen coal gasification project in Japan.
• Sumitomo CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Major Japanese trading house with diverse business activities. Joint venture partner with J-POWER for hydrogen production. Engaged in hydrogen, ammonia, CCUS, and clean energy business development globally.
• Marubeni CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Japanese trading company involved in the Australian-funded portion of the HESC pilot phase through Hydrogen Engineering Australia consortium.
• AGL EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Australian energy company hosting hydrogen production plant at AGL Loy Yang Complex in Latrobe Valley during pilot phase. Provided site access and infrastructure for coal gasification demonstration.
• Royal Dutch ShellmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Involved in the Japanese portion of the HESC pilot phase through HySTRA consortium. Contributed to international hydrogen supply chain development efforts.
• ENEOS CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Japanese energy company involved in Japanese-funded portion of pilot. Original recipient of Green Innovation Fund grant along with JSE before restructuring.
• Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K-Line)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Japanese shipping company involved in Japanese portion of pilot phase through HySTRA. Subsequently joined JSE Ocean in 2023 for commercial-scale marine transport development.
• Hydrogen Engineering Australia (HEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018100% subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Coordinated Australian-funded portion of pilot phase. Established Melbourne office to administer project. Consortium of KHI, J-POWER, Iwatani, Marubeni, AGL, and Sumitomo.
• CO2-Free Hydrogen Supply Chain Technology Association (HySTRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Japanese consortium coordinating the Japanese-funded portion of HESC pilot phase on behalf of KHI, J-POWER, Iwatani, Shell, Marubeni, ENEOS, and K-Line. Manages Suiso Frontier operations.
• CarbonNetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative of Australian and Victorian Governments developing commercial-scale CCS network from Latrobe Valley to offshore storage in Gippsland Basin. Primary CO2 storage option for commercial phase.
• Global CCS InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational member-led organisation accelerating CCS deployment. Supporting HESC through expertise in carbon capture and storage best practices.
• CO2CRCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's key designer, initiator, and manager of CCS research. Otway Research Facility is world-leading demonstration of geological CO2 storage. Lessons shared with HESC partners.
• CSIROmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's national science agency partnering on ortho-para conversion catalyst development for liquid hydrogen production. Providing technical expertise and hydrogen industry research.
• South PoleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon credit provider for pilot phase. HESC purchased Australian Carbon Credit Units contributing to Boobera Carbon Project vegetation regeneration initiative in Queensland to offset pilot emissions.
• CoregasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian industrial gas company that took over operations of Port of Hastings liquefaction facility after pilot phase completion.
• ExxonMobil Affiliate (Gippsland Basin Joint Venture CCS Hub)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative CO2 storage option for commercial phase. South East Australia Carbon Capture Hub using depleted Bream gas field for geological CO2 storage off Gippsland coast.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kawasaki Heavy Industries: Core HESC technology partner and parent of Hydrogen Engineering Australia; developer of LH2 carriers and cryogenic storage technology. Comparable as a designer and builder of LH2 marine transport and storage systems targeting Japan hydrogen demand.
• Air Products: World's largest hydrogen producer and a developer of large-scale blue/green hydrogen export projects (e.g., NEOM in Saudi Arabia). Directly comparable as an integrated hydrogen production, liquefaction, and export infrastructure operator with global offtake customers.
• INPEX Corporation: Japan's largest exploration and production company; 2023 acquirer of Japan Suiso Energy shares. Comparable operator of large-scale LNG/energy export supply chains from Australia to Japan, with hydrogen ambitions leveraging the Ichthys project expertise.
• Linde: Global industrial gases major with leading hydrogen production and supply operations across multiple geographies. Comparable as a merchant hydrogen supplier with established distribution, terminal, and offtake infrastructure.
• Woodside Energy: Australian energy major pursuing blue hydrogen (H2Perth) and CCS projects. Comparable as an Australian-based hydrogen/CCS developer with similar Latrobe Valley/Gippsland regional context and Japanese offtake ambitions.
• Iwatani Corporation: Japanese industrial gases and hydrogen specialist; core HESC partner operating the Hy Touch Kobe LH2 terminal. Comparable as a domestic Japanese LH2 distribution and hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure operator with direct overlap in offtake markets.

Emerging players

• Sempra Infrastructure: Developer of LNG export infrastructure at Cameron LNG and increasingly involved in hydrogen and ammonia export projects. Comparable as a North American-headquartered developer of liquefied energy export supply chains with hydrogen/CCS ambitions.
• Equinor: Norwegian energy major developing blue hydrogen projects in the UK and Europe with CCS integration. Comparable as an integrated oil and gas company pivoting to CCS-enabled hydrogen production and supply.
• Chiyoda Corporation: Japanese engineering firm developing SPERA hydrogen technology and CCS-integrated hydrogen production. Comparable as a Japan-focused technology developer for international hydrogen supply chains, with direct exposure to hydrogen offtake customers.
• Fortescue Future Industries: Australian green hydrogen project developer pursuing large-scale electrolysis-based hydrogen production and export. Comparable as an Australian-headquartered hydrogen export platform targeting international offtake, though with green rather than blue feedstock.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain