U.S. and Japan Clean Hydrogen Business Organizations Pledge Cooperation on Decarbonization

Chicago, October 28, 2024

Senior energy executives from Houston, Texas, USA, known as the “energy capital of the world,” met today with Japanese energy sector colleagues to discuss achieving decarbonization goals by creating a “hydrogen society.” Japan emphasizes clean hydrogen as a next-generation energy source but lacks the domestic resources to achieve that vision without international cooperation.

The Center for Houston's Future (CHF), a Houston-based economic development organization and leader of the U.S. Gulf Coast’s clean hydrogen strategy, today co-hosted “The Japan-U.S. Gulf Coast Clean Hydrogen Round Table” with the Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A). The JH2A has about 450 Japanese companies, local governments, and research institutes as members.

The meeting brought together energy experts from the public and private sectors of Japan and the U.S. to discuss this topic. CHF and JH2A also signed an MOU at the event, pledging cooperation. At the MOU signing ceremony held at the beginning of the event, Brett Perlman, Managing Director of the Center of Houston’s Future, and Hiroshi Fukushima, Secretary General of JH2A, served as signatories.

Roland Berger Japan, led by Managing Partner Yuzuru Joe Ohashi , sponsored and supported the event.

The Japan-U.S. Gulf Coast Clean Hydrogen Forum is part of a series of regular Trade and Investment Missions conducted by the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), the largest chamber of commerce in the Greater Houston Area. This is the first visit to Japan and South Korea to promote a collaboration on hydrogen energy.

This Forum was held to build relationships based on a Japanese-U.S. collaboration and commercial transactions in the clean hydrogen business. The participants exchanged views on Japanese and U.S. energy policies, technology development, social implementation efforts, and more.

Brett Perlman, Managing Director at the Center for Houston's Future, highlighted the growing interest of the U.S. Gulf Coast, one of the world’s leading hydrogen-producing regions, in the Japanese clean hydrogen market, commenting:

"More than 20 energy companies based on the U.S. Gulf Coast are participating in this visit, including major clean hydrogen suppliers, international EPCs, infrastructure companies, clean hydrogen equipment suppliers, and trading companies. This illustrates our shared understanding that collaborations with the Japanese market are essential to realizing a clean hydrogen society, including trade, technology alliances, and building global supply chains. As the world's energy capital, we seek to become a central player in promoting decarbonization in the U.S. and the world. CHF is committed to working with Japanese businesses, government and NGOs to realize the vision of a hydrogen society."

JH2A Executive Director Hiroshi Fukushima commented on the significance of the MOU, stating:

"We are pleased to have signed this MOU with the Center for Houston’s Future, which plays an important role in the energy transition toward decarbonization in the United States and worldwide. With this, JH2A has now signed MOUs with 12 overseas organizations. JH2A will strengthen its relationships with the industry's international community and work with the public, government, local governments, and industry to ensure Japan can quickly build a hydrogen value chain and society."

John Cypher, Vice President, International Investment and Trade with the Greater Houston Partnership, commented on the importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship:

"Japan is Houston's seventh-largest international trading partner, with trade between our regions nearly tripling over the past decade. This remarkable growth underscores the strength of our economic ties and highlights Houston's pivotal role as the world's energy capital. As we continue to foster these dynamic trade and cultural relationships with Japan, we pave the way for future collaborations to drive innovation and prosperity for both our regions."

Koji Toyama , Partner at Roland Berger Japan, provided his view on the global market, commenting:

"In recent years, hydrogen, once seen as critical for decarbonization, has faced a slowdown in its expansion due to challenges like rising costs. A more focused approach is needed to ensure the economic viability of hydrogen-related ventures while maintaining efforts for medium- and long-term growth. I am confident that Roland Berger is well-positioned to help clients navigate these risks, supporting the commercialization and viability of hydrogen across all aspects of business—including driving the transformation of Japanese companies.

Diego Ibarra , Senior Partner at Roland Berger USA, shared that “at Roland Berger, we've built a wealth of expertise supporting global energy and decarbonization projects for governments, investors, innovators and industry. As hydrogen becomes a critical pillar in the journey toward decarbonization, we are actively partnering with clients to drive transformative change. Connecting global markets is essential to realize the potential of clean hydrogen, and to address climate change. As Roland Berger serves clients around the world, we are happy to support this trade mission through cooperation across our American, Asian and European offices."

CHF, JH2A, GHP, and Roland Berger will drive the momentum created and shared at the Japan-U.S. Gulf Coast Clean Hydrogen Round Table and timely foster and capture various opportunities to develop the hydrogen market and realize the hydrogen society.

About the Center for Houston’s Future: The Center for Houston’s Future focuses on understanding future global trends and their impact on the Houston region. The Center brings business, government, and community stakeholders together to engage in fact-based strategic planning, collaboration, and action on issues of great importance to the region’s success. It engages in research, holds community events and develops leaders. Its current strategic focus areas include energy, climate and energy transition; health and health equity; and Vision 2050, a strategic visioning plan for the region. The Center is an independent affiliate of the Greater Houston Partnership. Its leadership program has graduated more than 1,300 business and civic leaders. https://www.futurehouston.org/

About the Japan Hydrogen Association: The Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A) has about 450 Japanese companies, local governments, and research institutes as members and aims to develop hydrogen society rapidly by realizing implementation projects, with an overall supply chain, as an inter-sector and open association. https://www.japanh2association.jp/

About the Greater Houston Partnership: Since 1840, the Greater Houston Partnership has strived to make the region the best place to live, work and build a business. The Partnership is the primary business advocate for the Houston region, serving 900 member companies representing one-quarter of the region’s workforce. The Partnership is also the regional economic development organization working to recruit companies interested in expanding or relocating here. https://www.houston.org/

About Roland Berger: Roland Berger is one of the world's leading strategy consultancies with a wide-ranging service portfolio for all relevant industries and business functions. Founded in 1967, Roland Berger is headquartered in Munich. Renowned for its expertise in transformation, innovation across all sectors and performance improvement, the consultancy has set itself the goal of embedding sustainability in all its projects. Roland Berger's revenues stood at more than 1 billion euros in 2023.