Japan and Romania are planning to jointly invest significant sums, potentially “trillions of dollars,” into decarbonization projects, with a focus on renewable energy production. According to the Japanese publication Nikkei, the two countries are preparing to issue a joint statement outlining their commitment to energy assistance for Ukraine, as well as creating a framework for ecological investments in Romania.

The joint efforts aim to not only produce renewable electricity for local use but also to facilitate its export to Ukraine, helping to support the country’s energy needs amidst ongoing challenges. Japanese government officials, alongside representatives from major Japanese corporations like Hitachi, Eneos Holdings, and IHI, are set to visit Romania and Poland to formalize these plans. The visit will also involve discussions with Romanian authorities, including officials from the Ministry of Energy and Innovation.

The investment will focus on a range of ecological projects, funded by both Japanese and Romanian institutions. The Japanese Ministry of Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) will collaborate with Romanian authorities to finance and implement various initiatives. Among the key projects identified for funding are Itochu’s hydroelectric systems and energy solutions combining solar power with fuel cell technology from Panasonic.

Additionally, Japan is exploring opportunities to contribute to hydrogen production technologies, including the development of systems for generating hydrogen from natural gas, as well as carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies for producing blue hydrogen. Japan also aims to offer technologies that would enable existing natural gas power plants to transition to hydrogen fuel, supporting both decarbonization and energy diversification in the region.