PVTIME – ABB has been appointed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries to deliver full automation and safety systems for Japan’s pioneering commercial-scale liquefied hydrogen terminal at Ogishima, located approximately 30 kilometres south of Tokyo. The facility represents the world’s first site purpose built to upscale liquefied hydrogen operations from pilot trials to full commercial deployment, with its demonstration phase set for completion by 2030. Initial construction work commenced with a groundbreaking ceremony held in November 2025.
The Ogishima terminal forms the core infrastructure of Japan’s strategy to establish a cross-border liquefied hydrogen supply chain, marking a distinct national approach compared with hydrogen derivative and pipeline focused models adopted in other regions. Operated by Japan Suiso Energy, the project receives financial backing from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization through its Green Innovation Fund, under the official title of the Liquefied Hydrogen Supply Chain Commercialization Demonstration project.
Parallel maritime hydrogen infrastructure development has advanced concurrently under Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ delivery programme. In January 2026, the firm partnered with Japan Suiso Energy to construct the world’s largest liquefied hydrogen carrier, featuring a 40,000 cubic metre capacity equal to 32 million cubic metres of standard gaseous hydrogen. The 250 metre vessel will be built at Kawasaki’s Sakaide Works facility in Kagawa Prefecture. Kawasaki completed construction of the pioneering 1,250 cubic metre Suiso Frontier liquefied hydrogen carrier in 2021, which validated cross-border hydrogen shipping operations via Australia Japan transit routes throughout 2022.
The new terminal contract extends ABB’s long standing engagement in Japan’s hydrogen sector. The company previously supplied control and safety systems for the Hy touch Kobe receiving terminal, the country’s first liquefied hydrogen import facility, as part of the HySTRA led Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain pilot project. This latest collaboration advances ABB’s role from pilot stage support to commercial scale hydrogen infrastructure delivery in Japan.
