MHI Group Undertakes Investment in HydrogenPro of Norway, Leading Producer of Advanced Electrolyzers

TOKYO, Oct 14, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has made a financial investment in HydrogenPro AS of Norway, a company engaged in the development and manufacture of electrolyzers, devices that produce hydrogen by the process of water electrolysis. MHI subscribed to newly issued shares placed by HydrogenPro in an initial public offering (IPO) undertaken to fund expansion of its business operations. MHI already provides various decarbonization technologies that allow for a realistic path towards net-zero and will form the strategic partnership with HydrogenPro to further expand its portfolio and provide green hydrogen production plants to the market going forward.HydrogenPro was established in 2013 based in the Norwegian city of Porsgrunn, Telemark County. The history of water electrolysis technology traces back to 1927, when a fertilizer and heavy water plant employing water electrolysis technology was launched in Telemark by Norsk Hydro, a Norwegian state owned conglomerate. HydrogenPro has already developed a 9 megawatt (MW) class hydrogen production system (production capacity: 4.4 tons/day) adopting water electrolysis technology incorporating a pressurized cells with alkaline electrolyte. Plans are now underway toward achieving a 100 MW class plant (capacity: 48 tons/day).Today, demand is growing for green hydrogen production plants, especially in Europe. France has announced a target of 6.5 gigawatts (GW) in electrolyzer capacity by 2030, Germany is targeting a capacity of 5 GW by 2030, and 10 GW by 2040, while the EU aims at securing 40 GW of renewable hydrogen electrolyzers by 2030.MHI's investment in HydrogenPro provides further financial stability and long-term certainty for projects utilizing green hydrogen to decarbonize various sectors. MHI's investment in HydrogenPro not only signals its confidence in HydrogenPro's offerings, but more importantly, this investment underscores its confidence in the green hydrogen market which will be supported by a multitude of electrolyzer manufacturers and technologies.Going forward, MHI will continue to explore technology innovations that will drive decarbonization of industrial sectors including power generation, refinery, fertilizer, steel and transport utilizing hydrogen as fuel, feedstock, or for hydro processing. In parallel with initiatives promoting green hydrogen, MHI will explore the feasibility of hydrogen derived from fossil fuel in combination with CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) - blue hydrogen - as another approach to decarbonize industries.About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial firms. For more than 130 years, we have channeled big thinking into solutions that move the world forward - advancing the lives of everyone who shares our planet. We deliver innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries, covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI Group employs 80,000 people across 400 locations, operating in three business domains: "Power Systems," "Industry & Infrastructure," "Aircraft, Defense & Space." We have a consolidated revenue of around 40 billion U.S. Dollars. We aim to contribute to environmental sustainability while achieving global growth, using our leading-edge technologies. By bringing people and ideas together as one, we continue to pave the way to a future of shared success.For more information, please visit MHI's website: https://www.mhi.com For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: https://spectra.mhi.com Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Toyota: Launch of a Preparatory Committee for “Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A)”

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 14, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - The nine private companies (listed below) that are engaged in the construction and expansion of a hydrogen society announce that they are launching a new preparatory committee called "JAPAN Hydrogen association (JH2A)" to promote the formation of a hydrogen supply chain and global partnerships in the hydrogen sector. With hydrogen anticipated to play an important and central role in curbing global warming, Japan is expected to continue to take the lead globally through innovative steps. By establishing a hydrogen society as well as partnering with various stakeholders, JH2A will look to cultivate the hydrogen industry and promote initiatives toward its development. Working together with other companies, local governments, and organizations who are willing to support such initiatives, the preparatory committee aims to establish a new organization at the beginning of December.Members of the preparatory committee (in alphabetical order) ENEOS Corporation, Iwatani Corporation*, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kobe Steel, Ltd., MITSUI & CO., Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.*, The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc., Toshiba Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation*Aim & scope of the activities of the new committeeThe new JAPAN Hydrogen association will partner and collaborate with existing businesses and organizations as it works toward constructing the hydrogen value chain. JH2A will create plans on providing functions to promote initiatives, coordinate with external stakeholders, and conduct research.- Engage in cross-sectoral initiatives to establish the hydrogen value chain- Accelerate developments toward social implementation to realize a hydrogen society- Promote the establishment of systems for the supply of funds with financial institutionsBackground of the new committeeAs many countries accelerate initiatives toward realizing a hydrogen society, possibilities and issues related to promoting the use of hydrogen to reduce CO2 emissions have been debated in Japan. Various corporations are partnering for the expansion of demand of hydrogen, the supply of low cost hydrogen, and promotion of the use of hydrogen. The above-mentioned member companies have recognized the need for a cross-sectoral organization that aims to resolve the issues of creating demand in hydrogen, reducing cost through scale-up of hydrogen use and technological innovation, along with the supply of funds to businesses, and have become to consider concrete steps toward establishing this new committee.*Indicates companies with secretarial rolesAbout Toyota Motor CorporationToyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Fujitsu Accelerates Digital Transformation at Mizuho Bank Branches with Innovative Tablet Solution

TOKYO, Oct 14, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited and Banking Channel Solutions Limited(1) in collaboration with Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc. today announced that they have developed and delivered a tablet solution for Mizuho Bank, Ltd. that enables customers to make deposits and withdrawals, complete bank transfers, open accounts, and change addresses directly from tablet PCs at branch offices. The companies offer tablet devices as subscription services and the total service of operation and multi-vendor hardware maintenance support.Starting in October, Mizuho Bank plans to gradually introduce this tablet solution to its 348 branches throughout Japan and to begin offering this service. By establishing a system that enables Mizuho Bank's new account system "MINORI" to be connected directly online from a tablet, individual customers visiting the bank will be able to complete transactions by simply inputting data into the tablet, without having to fill out an application form. This will lead to improved customer service by simplifying procedures and will lead to a significant reduction in Mizuho Bank's clerical work hours.Going forward, Fujitsu and Banking Channel Solutions will continue to support Mizuho Bank in its efforts for driving digital transformation (DX) and transforming its branch offices to next-generation branches that focus on customer consulting services.BackgroundSince 2008, Fujitsu and Banking Channel Solutions have supported Mizuho Bank's branch offices in the implementation, operation and maintenance of their branch office systems, have supported Mizuho Bank's core system for many years by Fujitsu, and have jointly developed and launched a new account system called "MINORI".Mizuho Bank is making major changes to its branches in recent changes in the needs of individual customers for banks and the use of branch offices, and changes in lifestyles of people that has changed significantly due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2014, Mizuho Bank has introduced tablet devices to the branch offices to improve its customer service and to change its administration procedures. To further improve customer convenience and satisfaction, Fujitsu is adding more in-branch tablets and introducing new services.About the Solution1. Tablet Solution: Process completed directly from the tablet with online connection to the core accounting system In the past, clerical work used to be performed in branch offices by having staff print out information that customers have entered into tablets on paper slips, which are then read via QR code at a terminal.With the newly developed tablet solution, data entered on the tablet by the customer can be sent directly to the accounting system, allowing the customer to complete transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, transfers, accounts opening, and addresses change. In addition, by using the tablet-mounted camera to read customer identification documents and in conjunction with the smartphone biometric authentication function, customers can quickly complete the procedures without having to go through the procedures for customer identification at the counter. As a result, Mizuho Bank can significantly reduce the clerical work hours for branch staffs.2. Managed Device Services: Reducing IT costs with subscription-based terminals Fujitsu will capitalize tablets used by Mizuho Bank, and provide subscription to the handsets, kitting, delivery, maintenance and collection. This service is provided to Mizuho Bank ahead of the official launch of subscription service for terminal devices. The subscription fee is determined based on the number of tablets used, starting from about 3,000 tablets, which are scheduled to be used at Mizuho Bank's branches nationwide. This eliminates the need to purchase and manage spare equipment and minimizes IT costs.Operation status of the equipment covered by the contract and incident progress can be checked at any time through the portal site from a PC or smartphone. By visualizing operations, this reduces the burden of asset management of Mizuho Bank and contributes to reducing operating costs for tablets devices.3. Branch Management Service: Single point of contact of support including multivendor hardware maintenance Banking Channel Solutions will provide one-stop hardware maintenance, operation support, and business application support for tablets and self-service machines(2) in order to provide total support in a safe and secure manner, including the introduction of approximately 3,000 tablets, online connection with accounting systems, and linkage with related equipment. In addition, based on its past experience and know-how, it provides the single point of contact for inquiries about the equipment including those of 3rd party vendors, and integrates the contact point for operation and maintenance including tablet solutions, to smoothly respond to inquiries and problems.(1) Banking Channel Solutions LimitedFujitsu group company established in August 2008 and is 51% owned by Fujitsu and 49% by Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Provides solutions and maintenance services for branch and office systems for financial institutions.(2) Self-service machinesMachines customized for Mizuho Bank provided by Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Enables self-operation such as deposits and withdrawals.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com