Nippon Steel has begun exporting high-grade steel used in hydrogen refueling stations overseas. It has recently received orders in Europe and Asia. This product is highly resistant and strong to hydrogen, and has a relatively high share in the field of hydrogen refueling stations in Japan. In the context of increasing demand from decarbonization, countries around the world will successively promote the construction of hydrogen energy infrastructure, and Japan Steel plans to fully strive for overseas demand.
Nippon Steel started to export the stainless steel material "HRX19" for high-pressure hydrogen. Mainly used at the interface between the hydrogen pipe and the connecting pipe. It can handle 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen filling, and its strength is 1.5 times that of ordinary hydrogen steel specified by the Japan High-Pressure Gas Security Association. By increasing the nickel content and other measures, it also has the characteristic that it is not easy to become brittle when exposed to hydrogen.
This kind of steel has been supplied in Japan since 2013, and currently it has received orders for about 80 hydrogen refueling stations, which is half of the country. Against the background that hydrogen refueling infrastructure is expected to increase worldwide, Japan Steel has started to supply samples to Switzerland and South Korea since 2020. After entering 2021, orders are also obtained in Europe and Asia. Nippon Steel did not propose a specific sales target, and will strengthen its overseas marketing activities in the future.
Statistics from Fuji Economics show that the number of hydrogen refueling stations in seven major countries, including Japan, the United States, and China, is expected to increase to about 12 times that of 2019, reaching more than 4,700 by 2030. HRX19 with high strength and easy welding process can also meet the needs of miniaturization of facilities. Nippon Steel plans to use quality that meets Japan's strict safety standards as weapons to expand into the world market.