Yoshinori Kanehana

Yoshinori Kanehana has been Chairman of the Board of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Kawasaki) since June 2020.

He joined Kawasaki in 1976 and was engaged in the Rolling Stock Group. He was appointed as Senior Executive Vice President of Kawasaki and President of the Rolling Stock Company in 2013. Then he became President of Kawasaki in 2016.

He has more than 29 years of experience in senior operational and executive roles in heavy industry, including railcar manufacturing, having worked in Japan, the UK and the US.

Under his leadership, Kawasaki and its project partners successfully completed the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Pilot Project in February 2022. The project pioneered shipping of liquefied hydrogen, through the operation of the world-first liquefied hydrogen carrier, the SUISO FRONTIER, between Japan and Australia.

Kanehana was a former Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, a global CEO-led initiative with the goal of promoting hydrogen to enable a transition to clean energy, from January 2022 to June 2024.

Session Overview

Wednesday, 5 November

11:20

Hydrogen ICC Hall B 11:20 - 12:00

Making the case for FID in hydrogen projects

As companies strategically reassess their capital allocation - largely driven by factors such as economic conditions, technological advancements and shifting market dynamics - major energy players are narrowing their focus to hydrogen ventures with the strongest commercial potential. This includes projects likely to advance to final investment decisions and secure reliable offtake agreements from industries most viable for uptake such as refineries, chemicals, and steel. Energy companies seeking to reach FID in hydrogen projects must navigate the nexus of policy frameworks, demand certainty, cost structures, and evolving technologies. Delivering energy in the most cost- and carbon-efficient way possible requires meticulous permitting, robust contract negotiations, and proactive demand creation, particularly in regions offering the best production economics. Despite challenges, the emerging hydrogen market offers substantial opportunities for growth and decarbonisation.

Attendee insights:

Gain a comprehensive overview of commercially viable hydrogen projects, and learn how strategic investment, regulatory rigor, and targeted demand creation are shaping hydrogen’s role in the global energy system.