The Japanese-German Energy Partnership

We hosted an insightful expert Workshop on hydrogen hubs as part of WG2 of the Japanese-German Energy Partnership. Industry representatives and public authorities from both countries exchanged their hydrogen hub experiences and discussed respective milestones and bottlenecks. After a warm welcome by Tomohiko Adachi from the METI, and Dr. Wolfram Wilde from the BMWK, the first part of the workshop gave room to political perspectives on the planning and implementation of hydrogen hubs by NOW GmbH, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Energy Agency of the Fukushima Prefecture. They agreed that strategic planning involving all stakeholders and good public-private cooperation is key for the development of a hydrogen ecosystem and that hydrogen hubs constitute the perfect format for engaging multiple actors, promoting synergies and lowering uncertainties. The second part of the workshop turned to practical perspectives on business engagement in hydrogen hubs. Dr. Keita Nakajima from Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation presented the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R) where solar energy is used for producing green hydrogen, and Bastian Gerstner-Riewer from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA, Ltd. gave an overview of the state and progress of the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub. The subsequent discussion shed light on the crucial role of overcoming regulatory challenges and the synchronization of funding schemes for de-risking. Moreover, it emphasized the need for both local and national governments’ support. We would like to thank all participants for their presence and engagement in the discussions!

It was a pleasure to host, with our AHK colleagues, a Fireplace talk on the Application Possibilities of Ammonia in various industry sectors this week.

Susanne Welter, from the German Embassy in Japan, opened the session with welcoming speech that focused on the challenges in the energy sector regarding the Russian invasion on Ukraine, and the importance of bilateral and international cooperation.

The current and potential future role of ammonia in decarbonization efforts was subsequently highlighted by ZBT, and the Clean Fuel Ammonia Association. In particular, the work of the CAMPIRE ALLIANCE was presented. Industry, research institutes and international parts have come together to collaborate on the development of an ammonia eco-system via the support of BMWK and BMBF. Green Ammonia could support the storage of renewable energy or be utilised in the shipping industry. Further to this, the Clean Fuel Ammonia Association stressed the importance of standardization and certification for international ammonia cooperation.

The subject of the Fireplace Talks on 20 May, jointly organised by AHK Japan and adelphi, was the topic of energy security, which was attended by experts from science and industry from both countries. Dr. Jacopo Maria Pepe from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) and Mika Ohbayashi, Director of the Renewable Energy Institute, addressed energy security from a German and Japanese perspective and discussed the current challenges and possible future prospects. This was followed by a lively discussion on the question of how an equally secure, affordable and sustainable energy supply can be guaranteed.

As the last event in 2021, a Fireplace Talk on 2 December invited experts and company representatives from both countries to an exchange on the topic of "Efficient production of green hydrogen". In the first of three keynote presentations, Dr. Deutsch, programme manager for hydrogen at Agora Energiewende, offered an insight into his research on the policy instruments needed to make green hydrogen competitive. As a best practice example, Mr Groh and Mr Hamilton from BayWa r.e. presented their projects in Germany and the Netherlands, which focus on the production of green hydrogen with solar energy. Mr. Kajiki from the Green Energy Division of Obayashi Corporation presented another best practice example: Demonstration projects in Kokonoe, Japan and Taupo, New Zealand are producing green hydrogen using geothermal energy. The subsequent open discussion focused on issues such as efficient production methods for green hydrogen using regional resources and infrastructure, potential for cost reduction and possible Japanese-German cooperation in the field of green hydrogen projects.  
At the beginning of the year, the main task was to make plans and define the measures within the framework of the Japan-Germany Energy Partnership for 2022. The two working groups will therefore meet in the first quarter of 2022 to decide on the priorities and concrete activities for 2022.

On November 15, 2021, an expert workshop on offshore wind energy took place. The focus of the workshop was on policy and support measures for offshore wind. More than 120 participants from ministries, JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) and relevant companies took part in the format that offered networking space for companies and associations from both countries to seize the opportunity and initiate cooperation. An important takeaway of the workshop was that grid connection and stability is an important issue for both Japanese and German companies.

On November 9, an expert meeting on "Green Hydrogen for Decarbonization" took place. After presenting the latest political developments, in particular the German funding guideline for the provision of financial support to international hydrogen projects, the event offered industry representatives from both countries the opportunity to discuss prerequisites for successful cooperation. The expert meeting also provided networking spaces that were specifically designed to hydrogen supply chain topics including production, transportation, storage and utilization of green hydrogen.

Within the framework of WG2 (Hydrogen), a digital expert workshop on the topic of "Green Hydrogen for Decarbonisation" took place on 8 June 2021. A total of 40 participants, including representatives of both partner ministries and relevant companies, took the opportunity to exchange ideas on policy approaches to promote the market ramp-up of green hydrogen as well as thematic priorities and ideas for possible joint cooperation projects. On 28 June 2021, the annual high-level steering group meeting also took place, which set the direction for this year's energy partnership work. Within the framework of WG1 (energy transition), the exchange will focus on the three topics of offshore wind, energy management and digitalisation, and energy efficiency in industry. Within the framework of WG1, a follow-up to the expert workshop in June on possible hydrogen cooperation projects between companies in both countries is planned. Other thematic focal points include the use of hydrogen to decarbonise industry and the transport sector, as well as possible projects in third countries.

The 11^th German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum took place from February 16-18, 2021. Experts from politics, business and science discussed political, technical and social paths to a greenhouse gas neutral industry.

On 27^th and 28^th of August 2020 a virtual expert meeting took place in preparation of the second Energy Transition Working Group Meeting. The first day focused on the current political developments with respect to system integration of renewables and the digitalization of the energy transition, whereas the second day discussed different technologies and solutions.

The format of the Fireplace Talk allows an exchange in a smaller, less formal round. During the 6^th Fireplace Talk, 23 representatives from business, politics and science from both countries came together in Tokyo to exchange ideas on offshore wind technologies. The discussion focused on opportunities for technological cooperation, the design of regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms.

On October 29^th and 30^th 2019, around 250 Japanese and German experts from politics, business and research discussed climate and energy policy as well as the current state of research in innovative solutions at the 10^th German-Japanese Environmental and Energy Dialogue Forum in Tokyo.