Kawasaki Commences Sales of a Hydraulic Booster Hydrogen Compressor for Large-Scale Hydrogen Refueling Stations (Hydrogen Supply Capacity: 600 Nm³/h)

Hydraulic booster type hydrogen compressor		System configuration

Tokyo, February 12, 2025 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it commences sales of a high-capacity hydraulic booster hydrogen compressor*¹ (hydrogen supply capacity: 600 Nm³/h) in FY 2025, designed for large-scale hydrogen refueling stations（HRSs）primarily serving fuel cell heavy-duty vehicles (FC HDVs) such as buses and trucks.

FC HDVs require a large amount of hydrogen as fuel, which makes refueling at HRSs time-consuming. To facilitate the widespread adoption of FC HDVs, it is essential to establish large-scale HRSs capable of rapidly refueling a high volume of vehicles with a high hydrogen flow rate. Hydrogen compressors, which play a key role in compressing hydrogen gas within these stations, must be upgraded to higher-capacity models to support this adoption.

Kawasaki’s new hydrogen compressor is a high-capacity model (hydrogen supply capacity: 600 Nm³/h) added to our existing lineup by modifying the combination of boosters, a key component, in a current compressor product (hydrogen supply capacity: 300 Nm³/h) designed for standard HRSs. This capacity enhancement makes the new compressor suitable for large-scale HRSs serving FC HDVs.

The new compressor product leverages technologies from Kawasaki's previously developed products, including high-reliability “high-pressure hydrogen gas valves for fuel cell vehicles” and “hydraulic products with energy-saving capabilities,” such as the ECO SERVO “variable-speed control system.” These technologies help extend the lifespan of high-pressure gas sliding seals, reducing maintenance frequency, and minimize the power consumption of the hydraulic drive system. As a result, the product reduces repair and utility costs for HRSs, contributing to overall lower operational costs.

Kawasaki remains committed to contributing to carbon neutrality by enabling large-scale HRSs essential for the broader use of FC HDVs and promoting the expansion of hydrogen mobility.

Additionally, Kawasaki is developing hydrogen compressors for even larger HRSs beyond the current large-scale facilities. This development is being carried out as part of the "Technology Development Project for Building a Competitive Hydrogen Supply Chain*²," a project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan's largest public management organization promoting research and development. Kawasaki will continue to be involved in these efforts.