Woodside, JSE, KEPCO partner to build Australia–Japan liquid hydrogen supply chain
Woodside Energy (Woodside), Japan Suiso Energy, Ltd. (JSE) and The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) have entered into a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly advance the development of a liquid hydrogen supply chain linking Australia and Japan.
The collaboration aims to establish an integrated system through which liquid hydrogen produced at Woodside’s proposed H2Perth Project in Western Australia will be shipped to Japan using specialised carriers and received at dedicated terminals. The project represents a significant step forward in creating the infrastructure required for a reliable, scalable, and sustainable hydrogen economy.
The H2Perth facility, planned for the Rockingham and Kwinana Industrial Zones near Perth, is designed to produce liquid hydrogen via natural gas reforming. Importantly, the project intends to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from the outset of operations. This will be supported by the deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies, alongside carbon credits where necessary, subject to final technical assessments, regulatory approvals, and commercial arrangements.
The MOU highlights the shared vision of accelerating the global energy transition, across the three companies. The announcement comes at a time when the demand for liquified hydrogen is expanding due to rising clean energy demand and public-private sector collaborations focused on building hydrogen supply chains.
Such partnerships improve resource sharing and foster innovation. With such initiatives, expenses related to hydrogen manufacturing and storage are also falling and are positioning liquefied hydrogen as a more appealing choice for numerous uses.
As the costs of production diminish, liquid hydrogen grows progressively more competitive with conventional fossil fuels.
By combining Woodside’s experience in large-scale energy projects, JSE’s leadership in hydrogen supply chain development, and KEPCO’s expertise in power generation and decarbonisation strategies, the partnership underscores the importance of international cooperation in achieving carbon neutrality goals.
The initiative also strengthens Australia’s position as a key energy supplier to Japan, one of its most important trading partners. For Japan, it provides a pathway to securing cleaner energy imports and advancing the country’s 2050 carbon neutrality commitments.
