Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) today announced that its pioneering Wind Hunter Project, a zero-emission initiative focused on wind-powered hydrogen production, has been chosen by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to participate in a significant research project aimed at realizing a hydrogen-based society. The project, officially titled “Development of Technologies for Realizing a Hydrogen Society / Regional Hydrogen Utilization Technology Development,” specifically targets “Hydrogen Production and Utilization Potential.”
This selection by NEDO underscores the strong potential and innovative approach of MOL’s Wind Hunter Project. The NEDO initiative will not only explore the optimization of hydrogen production vessels but also conduct research into ideal wind conditions in Japan’s coastal waters for generating green hydrogen for local consumption. Crucially, the project also includes the development of a demonstration vessel for the Wind Hunter concept and an examination of the broader hydrogen supply chain. These comprehensive efforts and technological prospects were highly praised by NEDO during the selection process.
MOL initially launched the Wind Hunter Project in November 2020 with the ambitious goal of achieving a decarbonized, hydrogen-based society by producing hydrogen onboard vessels using offshore wind energy and supplying it to onshore markets. The company has already conducted various demonstrations using its “Winz Maru” demonstration yacht. In a significant breakthrough in March of this year, the Winz Maru successfully completed the world’s first onshore supply of green hydrogen produced at sea, an achievement recognized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Tokyo Bay eSG Project – Priority Project.”
Looking ahead, MOL aims to construct and commercialize a full-scale demonstration vessel as early as the 2030s, anticipating the establishment of a robust hydrogen value chain in Japan. The Wind Hunter project’s commitment to innovation is also highlighted by a model currently on display in the “Transportation and Mobility” zone of the “Future City” pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Japan.
This initiative directly supports the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2,” which sets a target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Through such renewable energy projects and the establishment of clean energy supply chains, MOL is dedicated to reducing GHG emissions from its own operations and contributing to a more sustainable world.
