The BH2C showcases its capacities to Japanese industry as part of the Basque Country-Japan business mission.

The business mission, which ran from 10 to 18 October, included a specific programme for hydrogen, with activities such as visits to plants, participation in the REIF (Renewable Energy Industrial Fair) in Fukushima, meetings with the Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A), with the Lehendakari and with the Basque Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment, and the Business Leader Summit.

From 10 to 18 October, representatives of the BH2C have taken part in different activities within the framework of the official visit of the Basque Government to Japan, coordinated by Basque Trade & Investment. As part of this visit, the Basque Country has presented itself as an industrial country with important capabilities in the hydrogen sector.

Aitor Arzuaga, General Manager at Alba EF Energy, gave a presentation on the BH2C strategy during the meeting with the Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A). The event also served to learn about the activities of the JH2A and its business members, and to establish initial relationships for possible future collaboration. Mr Arzuaga also represented the BH2C at the meeting with the Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, and the Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment, Arantxa Tapia.

On 16 October, the Business Leader Summit was held in Tokyo, with the aim of promoting and raising awareness of the innovative, technological and industrial capacity of the Basque Country and of existing collaboration between Basque and Japanese companies. José Ignacio Zudaire, President of the Basque Hydrogen Corridor Association, took part in the panel to showcase the BH2C as an example of international leadership and to share best practice and key aspects in the different areas of interest. In his speech, Mr Zudaire spoke, amongst other issues, of the start-up of a 2.5MW electrolyser which has enabled the first renewable hydrogen to be produced in the Basque Country and which is scheduled to produce some 350 tonnes of hydrogen per year.

The BH2C also took part in the Renewable Energy Industrial Fair (REIF), organised by the Fukushima Prefectural Government. Fukushima is a particularly interesting region in that it is one of the cornerstones of the commitment of the Japanese government to the deployment of renewable energies, and is home to several reference projects in hydrogen technologies. In addition to having a space on the joint stand of the Energy Cluster Association, the BH2C also gave a presentation on the latest developments of the Association during the International Seminar held as part of the fair, providing Japanese industry representatives with information and an insight into the Basque Country's capacity to develop a hydrogen-based economy.

Specific visits were also made to different unique hydrogen facilities, enabling the representatives of the BH2C to network with companies such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kobe Steel, Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Denso Fukushima, the 10MW hydrogen production facility "Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R)", Kawasaki City, Resonac, ENEOS, Chiyoda Corporation and Taiyo Nippon Sanso. Marcos Suarez, Director of the hydrogen area of the Energy Cluster Association, provided all these organisations with an insight into the capabilities of the BH2C.