Dawn of hydrogen infrastructure born in Yokohama, circa 2003

Dawn of hydrogen infrastructure born in Yokohama, circa 2003

Around 2003 was a time when Japan's fuel cell vehicles were making great progress from the research phase to the demonstration phase, and there was a rapid demand for the development of hydrogen stations to support these vehicles. The Ebei-Asahi Hydrogen Station completed in Asahi-ku, Yokohama, was positioned as a full-scale base with a supply capacity of 50 Nm3 per hour and a 3,000-liter pressure storage unit, producing hydrogen by reforming naphtha. The first permanent station in Japan was already in operation at Yokohama's Daikoku Wharf, and this is the second such facility, so it was significant to establish a demonstration environment in an urban area. At the time, Japan was facing the obligation to reduce CO2 emissions following its ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, and the shift to zero-emission vehicles was a national issue. In addition, the concept of a hydrogen society was gaining momentum worldwide, with the United States and Europe announcing large-scale hydroge
n projects. The construction of two facilities in Yokohama was symbolic of Japan taking a full-scale step forward in building a hydrogen infrastructure with the aim of securing international competitiveness and taking the lead in environmental technology. These initial stations played an important role as the foundation for the future of fuel cell vehicles, responsible for establishing standards for safety testing, supply pressure standards, and compatibility with vehicles.