Japan and Malaysia strengthen hydrogen ties

Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), has welcomed Abang Johari Openg, the Premier of Malaysia’s Sarawak, to its Takasago Hydrogen Park in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, marking a significant step in strengthening ties between the hydrogen ambitions of Sarawak and hydrogen technologies from Mitsubishi Power.

As disclosed, the Premier and his delegation toured the facility’s integrated hydrogen value chain during the visit, gaining insights into next-generation hydrogen production technologies and validation processes for hydrogen firing in advanced gas turbines.

Strategic discussions between the delegation and Mitsubishi Power’s leadership focused on opportunities for collaboration and initiatives to bolster Sarawak’s hydrogen ecosystem, according to Mitsubishi Power.

Takuya Murase, Senior General Manager, GTCC Business Division of Energy Systems, MHI, commented: “We are deeply honored to host the Premier of Sarawak at the Takasago Hydrogen Park. As Sarawak advances its plans to establish a hydrogen-driven economy, Mitsubishi Power is committed to providing technological expertise and support. Our discussion during this visit reaffirms the tremendous opportunities to drive cleaner energy solutions and advance the energy transition in the region.”

The Premier of Sarawak stated: “Hydrogen is set to play a transformative role in the global energy landscape, and Sarawak is committed to being at the forefront of this evolution. Working with leading technological players like Mitsubishi Power and witnessing ongoing research and development in the field are instrumental to unlock the full potential of hydrogen and influence sustainable growth for our region.”

To note, Takasago Hydrogen Park, established in 2022, is reported to have the capability for integrated verification of hydrogen technologies, from production to power generation, and is divided into three areas according to functions for hydrogen production, storage and utilization. The validation of hydrogen firing equipment is carried out at the T-Point 2 combined cycle power plant validation facility, located in the utilization area, which is designed to support long-term testing of new technologies.

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries starts SOEC testing at Takasago Hydrogen Park
• Mitsubishi Power completes 30% hydrogen co-firing demo using grid-connected gas turbine

It is worth mentioning that as part of its support for Sarawak’s energy development, Mitsubishi Power, reportedly, supplied a 500 MW hydrogen-ready gas turbine for the Miri CCGT Power Plant by Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS). This project broke ground in November 2024, and the gas turbine is said to be designed to co-fire fuel containing up to 30% hydrogen.