The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has agreed to invest in the Clean H2 Infra Fund of France as an equity partner.
The Fund aims to raise EUR1,500 million, with JBIC contributing up to EUR100 million. The Fund is managed by Hy24, which is a 50/50 joint venture between FiveT Hydrogen, a clean hydrogen investment manager, and Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, through its infrastructure activity.
From upstream projects like green hydrogen production to downstream projects like captive fleets and refueling stations, the Fund will invest in clean hydrogen-related projects all over the world. JBIC is a member of the Fund as part of its GREEN operations. The Fund’s policy is to invest in hydrogen-related projects that meet one of the EU taxonomy’s six environmental objectives, “Climate change mitigation,” and the Fund’s goal will be sustainable investment in accordance with Article 9 of the SFDR regulation.
Many countries and regions have recently focused on hydrogen as a critical energy source for global decarbonization, and demand for funding for hydrogen-related projects is increasing. Air Liquide, TotalEnergies, VINCI Concessions, Plug Power, Baker Hughes, Chart Industries, AXA, CCR, LOTTE Chemicals, Snam, Enagas, GRTgaz, ADP, Ballard, EDF, and Schaeffler have already committed to the Clean H2 Infra Fund, which is the world’s largest clean hydrogen infrastructure investment fund. The Fund aims to accelerate the scaling up of hydrogen markets by unlocking strategic and large-scale projects currently in development. Through the Fund’s efforts, JBIC’s equity participation is expected to contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
Hydrogen, which produces no CO2 when burned, is being touted as the energy solution of the future. The Japanese government has called for international cooperation in the social implementation of hydrogen in its “Basic Hydrogen Strategy” released in December 2017 and its “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050” released in December 2020. The Fund is in line with the Japanese government’s hydrogen-related policies.
