Kawasaki Begins Demonstration of World-First Centrifugal Hydrogen Compressor for Liquefaction Plants
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has started operating a world-first centrifugal hydrogen compressor at its Harima Works to boost efficiency in hydrogen liquefaction plants.
approx. 35,000 m3/h
one-seventh of existing compressors
3 to 4% compared to existing technologies
What Happened
Kawasaki Heavy Industries announced it has built a demonstration facility at Harima Works for its KM Comp-H2 centrifugal hydrogen compressor, the world's first such compressor for hydrogen liquefaction plants. The demonstration began in January 2026 using 100% pure hydrogen gas. The project is part of a NEDO Green Innovation Fund to develop large-scale, high-efficiency hydrogen liquefaction equipment.
Kawasaki starts construction of the demonstration facility at Harima Works.
Demonstrations begin using 100% pure hydrogen gas.
Kawasaki announces the start of demonstration operations.
- High compression with compact design: requires only about one-seventh the installation space of existing compressors.
- Energy saving: reduces annual electricity consumption by 3 to 4% compared to existing technologies.
- Versatile applications: usable in hydrogen liquefaction plants, pipelines, underground storage, refineries, steelworks, and ammonia plants.
Why this matters
Hydrogen liquefaction is crucial for transporting hydrogen energy, and this compressor could reduce costs and space requirements, advancing the hydrogen economy.
Terms in This Story
- Centrifugal compressor
- A type of compressor that uses a rotating impeller to increase the pressure of a gas.
- Hydrogen liquefaction
- The process of cooling hydrogen gas to a liquid state for storage or transport.
- Impeller
- A rotating component of a compressor that imparts kinetic energy to the gas.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.