EU and Japan step up cooperation on hydrogen

The EU and Japan have today intensified their cooperation on hydrogen with the signature of a Memorandum of Cooperation to spur innovation and develop an international hydrogen market.

As frontrunners in hydrogen technology, the EU and Japan will work together for sustainable and affordable production, trade, transport, storage, distribution and use of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. The cooperation will help to establish a rules-based and transparent global hydrogen market without distortions to trade and investment.

The Memorandum was signed in Tokyo by Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Yasutoshi Nishimura. The Commissioner said: “Today’s agreement confirms the commitment of the EU and Japan to work together on hydrogen, which is key for both our climate goals and energy security. This Memorandum of Cooperation is an important milestone in deepening the EU’s energy cooperation with Japan, which is based on shared values and interests. I look forward to seeing the first concrete results of this cooperation in the months and years to come.”

The memorandum identifies a set of areas in which governments, industrial players, research institutions and local authorities in the EU and Japan will be encouraged to cooperate, such as: policies, regulations, research, project development as well as education and upskilling and reskilling for workforces.