Interim Report for the Hydrogen Safety Strategy Released

1. Background

The internal and external environments surrounding Japan's hydrogen safety is changing drastically, with demands for response to climate change issues, advances in hydrogen utilization technology, the integration of different types of businesses, the involvement of various actors, demands for safe use, and other issues.

For this reason, before hydrogen becomes widely used, it is necessary to form a comprehensive hydrogen strategy for hydrogen safety (Hydrogen Safety Strategy) to be used as a set of action guidelines for the public and private sectors over the next five to ten years, with a view to the long-term development of a safety regulation system that covers the entire supply chain in 2050.

Against this backdrop, the Study Group of a Hydrogen Safety Strategy (Chaired by Professor Miyake Atsumi, Executive Director and Vice President of Yokohama National University) was launched in August 2022. Since then, the group has held six discussions from three viewpoints in order to build an environment for the use of hydrogen with a view toward creating a hydrogen society while also, for each step of the hydrogen supply chain, i) organizing information and issues on hydrogen safety regulations, and, ii) rationalization and optimization of rules on the use of hydrogen with the premise of ensuring safety. The results of the discussions are compiled in this interim report.

2. Main information contained in the report

As a set of action guidelines for establishing a rational safety regulation system for the public and private sectors ahead of the rest of the world, the interim report contains the following three courses of action and nine concrete means to realize a hydrogen society and provide society a safe and secure utilization environment using Japan's world-class technologies.

A hydrogen safety technology map and Strategic Roadmap have also been compiled as part of the interim report.

Action policy 1: Efforts based on scientific data and evidence through technological development

Mean 1: Strategic acquisition of scientific data and sharing of data related to shared areas
Mean 2: Realization of a smooth experimental and demonstration environment

Action policy 2: Rationalization and optimization of rules for the gradual implementation of a hydrogen society

Mean 3: Approach to priority areas in the supply chain
Mean 4: Clarify the future pathway
Mean 5: Building and developing third party certification and inspection bodies
Mean 6: Collaboration with local governments

Action policy 3: Building a hydrogen utilization environment

Mean 7: Risk communication
Mean 8: Human resource development
Mean 9: Efforts to grasp trends in other countries, harmonize regulations, and establish international standards

Related Materials

• Outline of the Hydrogen Safety Strategy (Interim Report)(PDF:372KB)
• List of members of the study group (in Japanese)(PDF:91KB)