Marubeni and Bridgend County Borough Council of Wales, UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to jointly work together to research and develop a green hydrogen project (hereinafter, “Project”).

Third and forth person from the left:
Bridgend County Borough Council, Council Leader, Cllr. Huw David
Marubeni Corporation, Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Power Div., Satoru Harada

The Project consists of developing and deploying an Area Energy Management System (“AEMS”) that optimizes hydrogen production and supply based on predicted amounts of renewable energy generation and hydrogen demand. The AEMS will enable the hydrogen generation plant to balance the energy supply, storage, and demand at the area level, and the hydrogen produced will be used as fuel for the transportation sector, such as fuel cell vehicles, and as fuel for regional heating, thus contributing to decarbonization in Bridgend County Borough in Wales. 

The Welsh government, in its press release published in April 2019, announced its target to achieve a carbon neutral public sector by 2030, and in its publication “Net Zero Wales Carbon Budget 2 (2021-2025)”,* set forth its plan to establish a renewable hydrogen production site by 2024. In this context, this project will contribute to the achievement of the aforesaid targets.

To facilitate the Project, Marubeni is currently in the selection process for a programme called the “International Demonstration Project on Japan’s Energy Efficiency Technologies” from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (“NEDO”). As a part of the process, Marubeni completed a feasibility study titled “Demonstration project of control system that contributes to optimal supply and demand of local energy including electricity, heat and hydrogen (UK)” in March 2022. The MOU is expected to accelerate the Project based on the findings of the feasibility study.

Marubeni, in its Mid-Term Management Strategy GC2024, committed itself to lead the transition to a green economy, by expanding “Green business” and “Greening” in all business domains. Through this Project, Marubeni will bring solutions for decarbonization utilizing green hydrogen technologies.

 Click here for the 2nd Phase of the decarbonisation plan published by the Welsh government to achieve net zero emissions by 2050

■Bridgend County Borough Council

Location	: Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4WB, Wales
Representative	: Council Leader, Cllr. Huw David
Website	: https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/