Since the enactment of Japan’s Hydrogen Society Promotion Act in May 2024, efforts to mainstream hydrogen as an energy source have been gaining momentum. As the transition to a hydrogen-powered society accelerates, the NOK Group is drawing on its core technologies to support this shift, focusing on marketing, product development, and expanding its presence in the hydrogen energy market.

A framework for hydrogen energy: 
From production to storage, transport, and use

Hydrogen can be produced through several methods, but low-carbon hydrogen is attracting particular attention for its role in achieving a carbon-neutral future. One notable method involves using surplus electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind. Because output from these sources fluctuates depending on the weather, there are times when more power is generated than can be used. That excess energy can be used to electrolyze water and produce hydrogen, which can then be stored and later converted back into electricity when renewable output is low.

This end-to-end system — covering the production, storage and transport, and use of hydrogen — is known as the hydrogen supply chain.

NOK Group products 
Supporting the hydrogen supply chain

Since the 1990s, the NOK Group has been developing and manufacturing seals for fuel cell vehicles, part of the usage phase of the hydrogen supply chain. Fuel cells generate electricity by causing a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Each fuel cell, or single cell, consists of two electrodes, one supplying hydrogen, the other oxygen, and an electrolyte sandwiched in between. These cells are stacked together to form a larger unit called a stack. CELLSEAL are key components that separate individual cells and seal off the hydrogen, oxygen, steam, and coolant circulating inside.

In the production phase, NOK supplies O-rings and gaskets for water electrolysis equipment. For the storage and transport phase, the company provides O-rings and vibration isolators used in hydrogen stations. The hydrogen-resistant O-rings adopted in these stations are designed to maintain a long-lasting seal even under ultra-low temperatures below -50°C.

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H2 Project: A virtual organization dedicated to the hydrogen market

Under the Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2023-FY2025), the NOK Group has identified creating new growth drivers as one of four key initiatives to realize its goal of Constructing a Foundation for Transformation.

The Group has positioned electric vehicles (EVs) and green energy as key focus areas and is working to develop and expand sales of seal products and related technologies in the hydrogen energy field, aiming to establish this area as a future core business.

In 2024, the NOK Group launched H2 Project, a virtual organization dedicated to the hydrogen market. The project brings together members from across functions, including sales, development, and manufacturing, forming a cross-organizational team. By leveraging the strengths of a group of companies with distinctive technologies and products, the NOK Group is enhancing internal collaboration to deliver greater value to the hydrogen-related market.

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