EBARA Corporation will establish a new equipment testing and development center for hydrogen infrastructure-related equipment in Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Mainly, the establishment of Ebara Hydrogen Equipment Test and Development Center (E-HYETEC) aims to realize a hydrogen society. The company will invest approximately 16 billion yen (US$114 million) for the center’s construction.

Background

Amid the global trend toward decarbonization, hydrogen could play a key role in addressing climate change. Basically, hydrogen does not emit CO₂ when burned.

The EBARA Group is working to apply its technologies and businesses Groupwide to implement the “Production, Transport, and Use” of hydrogen throughout society. Particularly, it has already launched the first liquid hydrogen booster pump and is now marketing it globally.

Overview

Primarily, this center is designed to conduct equipment performance tests. Also, it aims to develop elemental technologies using liquid hydrogen (actual liquid) to ensure that liquid hydrogen pumps, which are indispensable for the construction of hydrogen supply chains in Japan and other countries, can be implemented in society. This center will be the world’s first full-scale commercial product testing facility for liquid hydrogen pumps using actual liquid.

E-HYETEC will be built in the company-owned 18,000m² lot in Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture with a building measuring 2,800 m². The company started construction in January 2024 and targets completion date of June 2026. It aims to make operational part of the test facility in 2025.

Moreover, to ensure the safe and stable operation of its liquid hydrogen pumps for customers, quality assurance through performance testing using actual liquid hydrogen at -253°C is indispensable.

Primarily, this center will enable EBARA to conduct product performance tests and elemental technology development using actual liquid hydrogen at full scale. Thus, it will contribute to the advancement of its hydrogen infrastructure-related business. Furthermore, it will also contribute to the development of hydrogen-related technologies for domestic and overseas companies. This will lead to supporting the creation of a hydrogen supply chain.

Future Prospects

Mainly, EBARA aims to grow its hydrogen infrastructure-related business as a new pillar of its operations. In relation, it aims to achieve revenue of 30 billion yen in 2030 and over 200 billion yen in 2040. Specifically, the new test center will contribute to the construction of a global hydrogen supply chain. Further, it will contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Generally, the EBARA Group aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing material issues identified in its long-term vision and executing the medium-term management plan to increase corporate value.

-17 September 2024-