News Release

Suntory Signs Basic Agreement on Mutual Cooperation for Building Hydrogen and Ammonia Supply Chains in the Chubu Region

Tokyo, Japan (November 18, 2024) — Suntory Holdings (Suntory) and the Central Japan Hydrogen and Ammonia Association (Association) today signed a basic agreement on mutual cooperation to establish supply chains for hydrogen and ammonia in the Chubu (Central Japan) region. Since March 2023, Suntory has participated in the Hydrogen Utilization Study Group in Chubu^*1, and through this group, has been involved in the Association’s activities. By directly signing this basic agreement with the Association, Suntory aims to further engage in the establishment and realization of hydrogen supply chains.

*1 Established in March 2020 by private companies in the energy, automotive, steel, and financial sectors, aiming to build a supply chain for the large-scale implementation and stable use of hydrogen in the Chubu (Central Japan) region.

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The Association is a public-private framework aimed at building a "demand, storage, and supply" supply chains for hydrogen and ammonia which are considered as next-generation energies due to their economic, supply stability, and safety features, particularly in the Chubu region (Aichi, Gifu, and Mie Prefectures) where manufacturing industries are concentrated. The Chubu Region Hydrogen and Ammonia Supply Chain Vision (Supply Chain Vision), announced by the Association last March, includes plans for hydrogen and ammonia supply hubs in Aichi and Mie Prefectures. It was also revealed that Chita City, where Suntory Chita Distillery is located, will be developed as a Used Plastic-derived Hydrogen Production and Supply Hub and an Ammonia Storage, Dehydrogenation and Supply Hub.

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With the aim to use green hydrogen at its manufacturing sites in Yamanashi Prefecture, Suntory has announced the introduction of the Yamanashi Model P2G System at the Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant and Suntory Hakushu Distillery (see News Release No. 14225). Suntory has been focusing on hydrogen as a next-generation energy source for realizing a carbon-neutral society. As a company that shares the same vision of realizing a hydrogen society as the Supply Chain Vision, Suntory has decided to sign the basic agreement with the desire to collaborate with other member companies of the Association on the social implementation for establishing a supply chain

Following the Hakushu Water Plant and Hakushu Distillery, Suntory has high expectations for the possibility of expanding the use of hydrogen at the Chita Distillery, including the conversion of heat energy sources used in the plant to hydrogen.

As a corporation sustained by the gifts of nature and water, and with a purpose to inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature, Suntory Group has been committed to achieving a sustainable society since its founding. As stated in the company’s Environmental Vision toward 2050, Suntory Group aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire value chain by 2050. To achieve this, the group has set the Environmental Targets toward 2030, aiming to halve its GHG emissions at its own sites and to reduce by 30% throughout the value chain by 2030^*2, by advancing various initiatives globally.

*2 Based on emissions in 2019.

Suntory Group will continue to promote sustainability management by actively introducing further energy-saving technologies and utilizing renewable energy such as hydrogen to reduce GHG emissions. 

Learn more about Suntory Group’s Sustainability Vision here and about its work on climate actions here.

About Suntory Group
As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Group aims to inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Sustained by the gifts of nature and water, the Group offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products, from award-winning Japanese whiskies Yamazaki and Hibiki, iconic American whiskies Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, canned ready-to-drink -196, The Premium Malt’s beer, Japanese wine Tomi, and the world-famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection also includes non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Oasis, BOSS coffee, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea, and V energy drink, as well as popular health and wellness product Sesamin EX. 

Founded as a family-owned business in 1899 in Osaka, Japan, Suntory Group has grown into a global company operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, with an annual revenue (excluding excise taxes) of $20.9 billion in 2023. Its 41,511 employees worldwide draw upon the unique blend of Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product categories and markets.

For more information, visit www.suntory.com and Drink Smart.