Key Facts
• Suntory Holdings to begin green hydrogen sales in 2027 in Yamanashi and Tokyo.
• Facility under construction in Hokuto City, Yamanashi, spans 3,000 square meters.
• Annual production capacity of 2,200 tons, the largest in Japan.
• Hydrogen produced using renewable energy like solar and hydropower.
• Facility to be completed by fall 2025; hydrogen to power water sterilization boilers.
• Adjacent distillery may use hydrogen for direct-fire whiskey distillation.
• Project part of NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund initiative.
• Demonstration phase ends in 2026; operations to shift to Yamanashi Hydrogen Company.
• Collaboration with Tokyo-based Taiyo Kogyo for hydrogen storage and delivery.
• Hydrogen to be transported in specialized containers and replenished at the facility.
• Facility construction includes pipelines, boilers, and water electrolysis equipment.
• Suntory aims to connect Yamanashi and Tokyo to promote a hydrogen-based society.
• Local officials emphasize hydrogen’s role in creating new demand and leadership.
• Facility progress as of May 2025: building, pipelines, and boilers completed.
Summary
Suntory Holdings is set to launch green hydrogen production and sales in 2027, utilizing a facility in Hokuto City, Yamanashi. The project, part of NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund, will produce 2,200 tons of hydrogen annually using renewable energy, making it Japan’s largest such facility. The hydrogen will power natural water sterilization and potentially whiskey distillation. Operations will transition to the Yamanashi Hydrogen Company post-2026, with Taiyo Kogyo managing storage and delivery. Suntory aims to connect Yamanashi and Tokyo to advance a hydrogen-based society, with local officials highlighting its potential to drive new demand and innovation.
