Iwatani enters US hydrogen market with acquisition of hydrogen stations

Iwatani Corporation of America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Iwatani Corporation, has acquired four hydrogen refuelling stations in California from Messer (formerly Linde, LLC).

The four retail stations are capable of supplying up to 350kg of hydrogen per day and are located in West Sacramento, Mountain View, San Ramon and San Juan Capistrano. The acquisition marks Iwatani’s entry into the US hydrogen refuelling market and expands the company’s total global hydrogen refuelling station network to 30.

“The four California stations are the first of a series of stations intended by Iwatani for deployment in the western part of the US,” said Mineharu Okamoto, President of Iwatani Corporation of America.

“Iwatani is committed to continuously improving the customers’ experience and a number of upgrades are planned for the acquired stations.” “Our multi-year development programme is aligned with plans by automakers and the state of California to extend the hydrogen supply chain infrastructure and make fuel cell electric vehicles available to consumers in the expanding US market.”

Iwatani is Japan’s only fully integrated supplier of hydrogen and supplies to its base of 26 hydrogen refuelling stations in Japan as well as industrial customers. “Messer has successfully operated these four fuelling stations for several years and feels confident that the stations for several years and feels confident that the stations will be in good hands going forward with Iwatani Corporation of America,” said Chris Ebeling, Executive Vice-President Sales and Marketing US Bulk, Messer Americas.

“Messer will continue to support Iwatani Corporation of America in a transition period for several months and also provide liquid hydrogen supply with respect to these stations.” Commenting on the acquisition, Craig Scott Director of Advanced Technologies, Toyota USA said, “Toyota and Iwatani have a long history of collaboration, and Iwatani’s commitment and entry into the US market is another indicator that a hydrogen-based society is in our future.”