What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to create an optimization model that enhances Japan's hydrogen supply chain while minimizing costs and emissions.

March 26, 2026Open Access

Multi-objective optimization model for a green hydrogen supply chain integrating imported carriers and renewable energy: A case study in Japan

Key Points

The aim is to create an optimization model that enhances Japan's hydrogen supply chain while minimizing costs and emissions.
Developed a multi-objective optimization model for green hydrogen supply chain.
Integrated imported hydrogen carriers and renewable hydrogen production.
Incorporated various transportation modes and storage facilities.
Utilized triangular fuzzy numbers for demand uncertainty.
Applied a weighted sum method to solve the model.
Achieved a total cost of approximately 44.71 trillion JPY over the planning horizon.
Total carbon emissions were approximately 163.79 Mt-CO2 across all activities.
Achieved an average response rate of 99.99% under demand uncertainty.
Demonstrated significant emission reductions of up to 62.5% through CCUS and electric transport.
Green technology emissions ranged from 0.80-0.95 kg-CO2/kg-H2, below EU limits.

Abstract

This study contributes to the hydrogen supply chain (HSC) literature by addressing, at a national scale, the lack of carbon emissions, system responsiveness, and demand uncertainty that prior studies neglected. This study develops a multi-objective optimization model for Japan's green HSC that integrates imported hydrogen carriers and domestically produced hydrogen from renewable electrolysis. The proposed model incorporates electrolyzer facilities, dehydrogenation ports, ammonia storage terminals, and multiple demand centers, such as the cement and steelmaking industries, power generation, and hydrogen refueling stations, located across East and West Japan. It accommodates multi-modal transportation systems and supports three hydrogen carrier types: liquid hydrogen, ammonia, and compressed hydrogen. The model minimizes total costs, including CAPEX, OPEX, procurement, transportation, storage, and carbon emissions, while maximizing responsiveness under demand uncertainty using triangular fuzzy numbers. A weighted sum method is applied to solve the proposed multi-objective optimization model. The results show a total cost of approximately 44.71 trillion JPY over the 2030–2050 planning horizon, with a total carbon emission of 163.79 Mt-CO 2 across production, transport, and storage activities. The model also achieves an average responsiveness of 99.99%. Sensitivity analysis reveals the impact of varying demand levels on the performance of the supply chain. These findings can help policymakers and energy stakeholders make informed decisions to support Japan's clean hydrogen transition and achieve its net-zero targets by 2050. • Multi-objective model integrates renewable electrolysis and imported hydrogen carriers in Japan. • Results show 44.7 trillion JPY cost, 163.78 Mt-CO 2 , and 99.99% responsiveness. • Pipeline 2.06 Mt-CH 2 ; truck 138 t-LH 2 ; NH3 29.69 t-NH3; train 16.13 Mt-LH 2 in 2050. • CCUS and electric transport cut total HSC carbon emissions by up to 62.5%. • Green technology 0.80-0.95 kg-CO 2 /kg-H 2 ; hybrid 2.00-2.38 kg-CO 2 /kg-H 2 , below UK/EU limits.

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