Chiyoda Corporation entered into an MOU with the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Koole Terminals in the Netherlands, and Mitsubishi Corporation to jointly study importing hydrogen on an international scale utilizing Chiyoda’s hydrogen storage and transportation technology; ‘SPERA Hydrogen’.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority released its Hydrogen Master Plan in May 2020, aiming to promote the development of a hydrogen supply chain in northwestern Europe and become a hub for hydrogen imports. The Authority is aiming to import 100,000 to 200,000 tons of hydrogen in 2025 and 300,000 to 400,000 t in 2030, with an estimated 20MMt of imported hydrogen to flow through the Port of Rotterdam annually by 2050.

Chiyoda’s SPERA Hydrogen storage and transportation technology is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving these targets and the MOU signatories are discussing the introduction of the technology and related business opportunities.

Chiyoda will provide engineering studies centered on SPERA Hydrogen technology to promote import and use of hydrogen, aiming to support CO₂ emission reductions and realize a future sustainable environment in Europe.

SPERA Hydrogen is Chiyoda’s technology to transport and store hydrogen using a Liquefied Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC), with methylcyclohexane (MCH)^*1 as the hydrogen carrier. In December 2020, the world's first ‘International Hydrogen Supply Chain’ to transport hydrogen from Brunei Darussalam to Japan utilizing SPERA Hydrogen MCH technology was successfully completed. The technology enables MCH, in a liquid state at ambient temperature and pressure, to be stored and transported safely, making it comparable to petroleum and other chemical products. By utilizing existing infrastructure and current international petrochemical product standards, the massive initial investment burden is significantly reduced.

Chiyoda is confident that this study, aiming to build an international hydrogen supply chain, will contribute to the decarbonization path of Europe, supporting the global drive towards a sustainable future.

^*1MCH-A liquid produced from toluene and hydrogen that can be handled in a liquid state at ambient temperature and pressure. It is widely used in many fields and products, including as a solvent for correction fluids.