Woodside Energy has joined forces with Japan Suiso Energy, Ltd. (JSE) and The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) to pioneer a new liquid hydrogen supply chain linking Australia and Japan, marking a milestone in cross-border energy collaboration and low-carbon innovation.
Under a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), the three companies will work together to design and develop an integrated hydrogen supply network, in which liquid hydrogen produced at Woodside’s proposed H2Perth Project in Western Australia would be shipped to dedicated receiving terminals in Japan.
The initiative underscores the strategic importance of hydrogen in Japan’s decarbonisation efforts and Australia’s emergence as a key supplier of next-generation energy commodities.
The H2Perth facility, to be located within the Rockingham and Kwinana Industrial Zones south of Perth, is being designed to produce liquid hydrogen through natural gas reforming.
Woodside intends to operate the project with net zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from the outset.
The company plans to achieve this through the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, subject to successful technical assessments and necessary commercial and regulatory approvals, complemented by the use of carbon offsets where required.
Woodside said the collaboration with JSE and KEPCO reflects a shared ambition to accelerate the global energy transition through technological innovation and international cooperation.
The development of a hydrogen supply chain is expected to play a key role in enabling Japan’s transition to cleaner energy and in strengthening bilateral energy ties between the two nations.
For Japan, where demand for reliable low-carbon energy is increasing, the partnership offers a pathway to import hydrogen produced under strict emissions standards.
It also positions Western Australia as a cornerstone in the regional hydrogen economy, leveraging existing industrial infrastructure and export expertise to contribute to decarbonisation across Asia.
Woodside’s H2Perth Project represents one of Australia’s most advanced low-carbon hydrogen proposals and is intended to serve as a large-scale export hub.
The project’s design integrates technology and infrastructure aimed at minimising environmental impacts while maximising efficiency in production and transport.
The company has noted that further technical studies and regulatory processes will shape the final investment decision and timing for development.
Japan Suiso Energy and KEPCO bring valuable experience in hydrogen supply chain research and operation, having participated in previous pilot-scale hydrogen import projects.
Their collaboration with Woodside is expected to help establish the commercial viability of large-scale hydrogen traded as a low-emissions energy carrier.
The MOU also reinforces the long-standing energy relationship between Australia and Japan, historically anchored in liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.
In transitioning to cleaner fuels, both nations aim to build on their partnership to realise the potential of hydrogen as a critical component of a sustainable global energy system.
By combining Australian resource advantages with Japanese technological and market expertise, the agreement between Woodside, JSE and KEPCO marks an important step toward establishing the infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and commercial models needed to scale hydrogen exports in the Asia-Pacific region.