Leveraging EBARA's strengths in high-pressure centrifugal pumps and cryogenic technologies, we have developed the world's first liquid hydrogen booster pump, for use when liquid hydrogen is unloaded from the tank and supplied to a hydrogen gas turbine.

In response to the global trend of expanding hydrogen markets, Ebara Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Ebara) has succeeded in developing the world's first liquid hydrogen boost pump for hydrogen power generation.

An announcement by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2022 predicts that hydrogen will account for more than 10% of global energy trade in 2050. ¹ In addition, it is predicted that the global hydrogen business market will expand to more than 200 trillion yen, and countries and companies around the world are accelerating their efforts.

In August 2021, we launched a hydrogen-related business project as a commercialization project (corporate project) directly under the president. Ebara has many highly compatible technologies in all processes of producing, transporting, and using hydrogen. In particular, "HAKOBU" has cryogenic liquid hydrogen pump and compressor technologies, and is developing a variety of transportation methods, including liquid hydrogen, compressed hydrogen, and liquid ammonia.

Since 2019, as part of a project funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), we have been developing the world's first liquid hydrogen boost pump for hydrogen power generation, which is necessary for supplying hydrogen to hydrogen-powered gas turbines. Using this prototype pump, actual liquid testing (-253°C) was carried out with liquid hydrogen at JAXA's Noshiro Rocket Test Site (Akita) in October last year, and favorable test results were obtained that will contribute to the design of a large-flow boost pump.

Liquid hydrogen used in hydrogen power generation is transported by sea from overseas and stored in domestic storage tanks, and then a boost pump is required when it is pumped out of the tanks and supplied to the hydrogen gas turbine.
Large-capacity pumps that can handle -253°C liquid hydrogen and have been pressurized for power generation are not currently available on the market due to the high technical difficulty. Based on our strengths in high-pressure centrifugal pumps and cryogenics technologies, we plan to launch this world's first pump for liquid hydrogen fuel supply in 2023. In addition, an interim development progress presentation was also made at a NEDO briefing session at the end of July 2022.

This product will play a role in connecting the hydrogen society, using our technology to transport and pressurize cryogenic next-generation fuel from liquefied hydrogen storage tanks to hydrogen-powered gas turbines. We will accelerate our efforts in the hydrogen power generation market and toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society as outlined in our long-term vision, "E-Vision 2030."

The EBARA Group aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing key ESG issues based on its long-term vision and medium-term management plan, and to further improve its corporate value.

[1] Citation: IRENA (2022), Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: The Hydrogen Factor, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi. ISBN: 978-92-9260-370-0