Dawn of hydrogen infrastructure born in Yokohama, circa 2003

Dawn of hydrogen infrastructure born in Yokohama, circa 2003

Around 2003, Japan's fuel cell vehicle research entered the full-scale demonstration phase, and there was an urgent need to develop hydrogen stations to support public road use. The Eibei Asahi Hydrogen Station completed in Asahi-ku, Yokohama, was a full-scale base that produced hydrogen by reforming naphtha and was equipped with a supply capacity of 50 Nm3 per hour and a 3,000-liter pressure storage unit. The first permanent station in Japan was already in operation at Daikoku Wharf, and this was the second example of such a station constructed. The background to this project was the policy requirement to reduce CO2 emissions after the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and to strengthen the competitiveness of the automobile industry. At the time, the concept of a hydrogen society was gaining momentum around the world, and Japan was also taking steps to develop infrastructure to secure its technological leadership. The two facilities in Yokohama were responsible for safety v
erification and the establishment of supply standards, and became important demonstration sites that symbolized the dawn of the hydrogen society.