Division of Global Security and Energy Transition (Energy Policy, Renewable, Hydrogen) Hashimoto Laboratory

Value creation in the era of Energy Transition

Geopolitics of Energy

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• Since the conclusion of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the global movement toward decarbonization has accelerated dramatically. In pursuit of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, an energy transition is now underway across the world, replacing conventional fossil fuels with cleaner sources of energy such as renewables.
  At the same time, however, developments threatening the stable supply of energy have continued to emerge, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the attacks on Iran conducted by the United States and Israel in February 2026. Against this backdrop, critical questions arise: How can energy security be ensured in the age of decarbonization? And how will decarbonization reshape the international politics surrounding energy?
  Drawing upon the unique interdisciplinary character of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, where the humanities and sciences coexist and collaborate—the International Institute of Energy Security brought together experts in energy science and geopolitics to address these pressing issues and to explore the path forward.
  The outcome of this collaborative endeavor were published in July 2026 in the volume Geopolitics of Energy (Energy Transition and Geopolitics: Japan’s Strategic Pathway). It is our sincere hope that this book will reach a wide readership and serve as an opportunity for deeper reflection on the ongoing energy transition and the future of energy security.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Supply Chains and the Creation of Added Value

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• Hydrogen, which emits no CO₂ when combusted, is widely regarded as a key enabler of global decarbonization. Plans are underway to establish international hydrogen supply chains in which hydrogen produced from abundant renewable energy resources overseas is transported to Japan for clean utilization. However, the high cost of hydrogen remains a major obstacle to its widespread adoption.
  Why is hydrogen so expensive? And how can its cost be reduced? Research institutions around the world are conducting techno-economic analyses of hydrogen supply chains in order to better understand their underlying cost structures. Through an international collaboration program of the International Energy Agency, our laboratory leads a global research initiative that brings together and compares cost analysis models developed in different countries, deepening our understanding of hydrogen cost structures and exploring pathways toward substantial cost reductions. This initiative is conducted under the framework of IEA H2TCP Task 50: International Cooperation on Cost and Carbon Intensity Analysis Models Comparison.
  At the same time, our research extends beyond cost reduction alone. We also evaluate the diverse sources of value associated with hydrogen—including its environmental benefits—and examine measures to promote hydrogen deployment from the demand-side perspective, taking into account consumers’ willingness to pay for such value.

UT Ocean Awareness

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• Although Japan is often described as a maritime nation, have we not, in reality, grown increasingly distant from the sea in our everyday lives?
  Surrounded by abundant natural beauty, diverse marine resources, and vast energy potential, the ocean enriches both our daily lives and our spirits. Motivated by a desire to reconnect people with the sea and to renew this vital relationship, we launched an initiative called UT Ocean Awareness in collaboration with the DLX Design Lab at the Institute of Industrial Science.
  As our first initiative, we organized workshops with high school students under the theme: How can marine-based renewable energy—such as offshore wind power and tidal current energy—revitalize local communities and cities?
  We also participated in and exhibited at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, a competition showcasing boat races powered by clean energy technologies.
  Moving forward, by combining the expertise of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology in the fields of energy and marine studies with the design capabilities of the Institute of Industrial Science, we will continue to work together with younger generations to reimagine and deepen the relationship between people and the ocean.

Member

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• • Professor
    Michio HASHIMOTO
  Research Area: Energy Policy, Renewable, Hydrogen