WA’s role in the global energy transition was front and centre at the 62nd Annual Australia-Japan Joint Business Conference, held in Perth from 5-7 October 2025. The event attracted over 650 delegates, including 330 from Japan and 315 from Australia, marking the largest Japanese delegation to attend an Australian-hosted conference.
Japan remains WA’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at $29.8 billion in 2024, historically driven by LNG, iron ore and coal exports. Today, the partnership is shifting toward renewable hydrogen, ammonia and critical minerals - resources essential for clean energy technologies.
Japan’s hydrogen roadmap is ambitious, with a supply of three million tonnes annually by 2030 and 20 million tonnes by 2050.
WA is positioning itself to meet this demand through projects like H2Perth and the Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) in the Pilbara, which aim to export green hydrogen and ammonia to Japan. To support this vision, the WA Government is actively courting Japanese investment to keep mega-projects on track.
The conference showcased WA’s energy innovation through site visits to Rio Tinto’s Remote Operations Centre, Woodside Energy’s Perth facilities,
and the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct.
Recent agreements signal progress: Woodside Energy, Japan Suiso Energy (JSE) and Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) signed an MoU to develop
a liquid hydrogen export chain from WA to Japan, leveraging cryogenic shipping and carbon capture to achieve near-zero emissions.
Japan plans to invest ¥15 trillion (A$150 billion) over 15 years to build a hydrogen supply chain, creating opportunities for Australian producers and technology providers.
For WA, deepening ties with Japan brings more than trade benefits, it also accelerates the state’s own clean energy transition. By leveraging Japanese capital and technology, WA aims to fast-track renewable hydrogen projects, integrate critical minerals into global supply chains and secure its position as a renewable energy powerhouse.
The meeting showcased the importance of international energy partnerships, particularly those that promote innovation, resilience and sustainability.
For Energy Club WA members, this means new opportunities in hydrogen, ammonia and critical minerals, as well as collaboration on infrastructure and technology.