Japan’s “hydrogen society” policy is a “complete failure”

In 2017, Japan created a pioneering national hydrogen strategy, envisaging a carbon-neutral “hydrogen society.” But a Renewable Energy Institute report slams the policy as catastrophically misguided, with 70% of its 10-year budget “spent on bad ideas.”Despite the fact that it’s been “revised somewhat” over the last 5-6 years, the REI claims Japan’s strategy needs a complete overhaul if the country is to have any chance of catching up with Europe, China and other countries, let alone regaining any kind of early-mover advantage. Ideas like the futuristic Toyota/Woven Planet “Woven City” with its extensive use of hydrogen canisters for home energy and fuel cell vehicles for short-range transport are wildly misaligned with what this stuff is actually good for. A strategy that should be focused on decarbonization is actually pushing Japan toward higher emissions in some cases, and it’s…

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