Suntory shifts hydrogen focus to Japan after Scottish distillery plan stalls
Japanese multinational Suntory Group unveiled its Green Hydrogen Vision on June 11, pledging to expand hydrogen use in whisky production and aiming to become Japan's first company covering the entire green hydrogen value chain by 2027.
Despite abandoning plans for a hydrogen facility at Scotland's Auchentoshan distillery after failing to secure UK government funding, Suntory will advance hydrogen applications in Japan. The Yamanashi Model Power-to-Gas System, launching in 2025 as Japan's largest 16MW green hydrogen facility, will supply the Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant and Hakushu Distillery, testing hydrogen-fired whisky distillation.
From 2027, Suntory plans to sell green hydrogen to external clients in Yamanashi and Tokyo through partner Tomoe Shokai, while exploring overseas hydrogen applications. Domestic projects include adopting hydrogen at Chita Distillery for grain whisky production and implementing hydrogen technology at Takasago Plant by the early 2030s.
These initiatives support Suntory's 2050 carbon neutrality goal. Japan has prioritized hydrogen as a key green energy since 2017, fostering public-private partnerships to build supply networks.
2025-06-13
Source - https-//www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/06/suntory-doubles-down-on-hydrogen-plans-despite-uk-distillery-block/