Kawasaki to Build One of Japan's Largest Testing Facilities to Accelerate Development and Demonstration of Liquefied Hydrogen-Related Equipment —Constructing a co-creation hub to introduce hydrogen into society—
Jun. 23, 2026
Tokyo, June 23, 2026 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., announced it will establish a testing facility specializing in liquefied hydrogen within the hydrogen technology development hub at its Harima Works (Harima-cho, Kako-gun, Hyogo Prefecture) to meet growing needs for testing and verification due to the expansion of activities to demonstrate the commercialization of the liquefied hydrogen supply chain*1. Operations are expected to commence during fiscal year 2027.
This facility will enable testing using liquefied hydrogen in its actual liquid state at practical-scale volumes and will also be made available to universities, research institutions, and partner companies as an open space for co-creation.
The establishment of this facility will provide the following.
(1) Stronger technological foundations to support safety and security
Repeated testing and verification using cryogenic liquefied hydrogen at -253°C at this in-house facility will help enhance the reliability of Kawasaki’s hydrogen-related equipment and systems, thereby supporting the realization of a safe and secure hydrogen society.
(2) Accelerated development of core technologies
As Japan's largest indoor testing facility, the site is equipped with multiple laboratories capable of versatile testing, enabling a wide range of tests for various products to be conducted in parallel and within a shorter timeframe. This, in turn, will accelerate the development of core technologies for equipment related to liquefied hydrogen.
(3) Expanded technology reach through co-creation
As well as serving as an in-house technology development platform, the facility will help to expand the potential of liquefied hydrogen technology by working with external partners. These activities will include joint research and development with universities, research institutions, and partner companies to enhance core technologies as well as collaborations with companies aiming to enter the liquefied hydrogen sector.
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Harima Works in Harima-cho, Kako-gun, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Total site area (hydrogen technology development hub) |
Approximately 11,000 m2 * Demonstration facilities for centrifugal hydrogen compressors, hydrogen gas engines, and hydrogen liquefiers will also be located on the premises |
| Facility configuration | Pressure-resistant thick-walled structure, pressure-relief roof, liquefied hydrogen tank (47 m3), measurement room |
| Development focus | - Functional demonstration and performance evaluation of equipment and devices - Operational and performance verification of components - Characterization and suitability verification of materials etc. |
| Service commencement | during fiscal year 2027 |
As a cornerstone of Energy and Environmental Solutions—one of the focus fields of the Group Vision 2030—Kawasaki is working towards the implementation of hydrogen, a next-generation clean energy source, into society. While the construction of the entire hydrogen supply chain—production, transportation, storage, and utilization—continues to proceed, Kawasaki has taken significant steps to demonstrate commercialization and accelerate its efforts to build an international hydrogen supply chain. These include the groundbreaking in November 2025 for the LH2 Terminal liquefied hydrogen base in Kawasaki City*2, and the signing of a contract in January 2026 to build the world’s largest 40,000 m3 liquefied hydrogen carrier*3.
As a leader in liquefied hydrogen technology, Kawasaki has consistently been active in the field, from the development of core technologies to full-scale verification. It boasts an extensive track record based on cryogenic technologies developed for the LNG sector. This includes the delivery of liquefied hydrogen tanks to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tanegashima Space Center in the 1980s, the transport of liquefied hydrogen between Japan and Australia by the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier, SUISO FROUNTIER, in 2022, and the demonstration of reception, storage, and supply of liquefied hydrogen at the Hy touch Kobe handling demonstration terminal. In recent years, Kawasaki has expanded into the aviation sector and successfully conducted liquefied hydrogen filling tests*4 on fuel tanks for hydrogen-powered aircraft at the JAXA Noshiro Rocket Test Center.
Kawasaki will continue striving to construct the hydrogen supply chain and advance core technologies related to liquefied hydrogen, thereby contributing to the realization of a carbon-neutral society and the establishment of energy security.
| *1 | NEDO Green Innovation Fund Project: Large-scale Hydrogen Supply Chain Establishment https://green-innovation.nedo.go.jp/en/ |
| *2 | Groundbreaking Ceremony for Key Facility for the Liquefied Hydrogen Supply Chain Commercialization Demonstration Project—Another important step towards the realization of a hydrogen society— (November 27, 2025) https://global.kawasaki.com/news_251127-2e.pdf |
| *3 | Contract Signed to Build World’s Largest 40,000 m3 Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier—Constructing a Commercial-Scale Liquefied Hydrogen Supply Chain— (January 6, 2026) https://global.kawasaki.com/news_260106-1e.pdf |
| *4 | Kawasaki Successfully Completes Japan’s First Test for Filling a Hydrogen Aircraft Storage Tank with Liquefied Hydrogen (November 6, 2025) https://global.kawasaki.com/en/corp/newsroom/news/detail/?f=20251106_9844 |
Related links
Group Vision 2030: Trustworthy Solutions for the Future
https://global.kawasaki.com/en/groupvision2030/index.html
Kawasaki Hydrogen Road website focused on the hydrogen business
https://global.kawasaki.com/en/hydrogen/index.html
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