News Releases

UWI Joins with Japan’s Niterra Co., Ltd. & Kenesjay Green on H2-TTransform Green Hydrogen Initiative

For Release Upon Receipt - October 20, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, October 20th, 2025 – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Niterra Co., Ltd. of Japan and Kenesjay Green Limited (KGL), an indigenous Caribbean energy transition company, to pioneer a groundbreaking green hydrogen initiative in Trinidad and Tobago — the H2-TTransform Project.

 

MOU Signing: (L–R): Dr. Renique Murray, Lecturer, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The UWI; Dr. Graham King, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The UWI; Mr. Philip Julien, Chairman, Kenesjay Green Limited; Professor Bheshem Ramlal, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI; Mr. Tadashi Watanabe, Director, Energy Business Strategy, Niterra Co., Ltd.; and Mr. Koichi Arimitsu, General Manager, Energy and Environment, Niterra Co., Ltd.

This strategic partnership aims to develop and pilot advanced Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) technology — a high-temperature electrolyser designed to significantly improve the efficiency of green hydrogen production. Niterra’s proprietary SOEC system utilizes steam to generate hydrogen and oxygen and has demonstrated up to 30% higher efficiency compared to conventional electrolysers.

Recognizing Trinidad and Tobago’s robust petrochemical infrastructure and access to process waste heat within the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, Niterra identified the country as an ideal site for its hydrogen technology pilot study. The company subsequently engaged The UWI as its academic research partner and Kenesjay Green Limited as its green energy industry collaborator, together launching the H2-TTransform Project.

This initiative embodies the vision of The UWI’s Hydrogen Research Collaborative (H2RC), established in 2023 to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry in developing a viable hydrogen economy for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

Making it Official: Professor Bheshem Ramlal, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI St. Augustine Campus (centre), Mr. Philip Julien, Chairman, Kenesjay Green Limited (L) and Mr. Tadashi Watanabe, Director, Energy Business Strategy, Niterra Co., Ltd. (Japan) sign the MOU at the Faculty of Engineering, conference room on Wednesday, 15th October 2025.

During Niterra’s recent visit to Trinidad for the MOU signing, representatives from all three organizations met with leading energy stakeholders at Point Lisas, including the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, to discuss the country’s emerging role in the global hydrogen value chain.

The collaboration will focus on two major components:

  1. Establishment of a Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence (GH2COE):Building upon the existing H2RC framework and Trinidad’s National Green Hydrogen Road Map, this center will conduct comprehensive model-based studies on green hydrogen systems and support the creation of a dedicated hydrogen laboratory at The UWI, St. Augustine Campus, to advance applied research and innovation.
  2. Facilitation of the Pilot Study:The project will involve the installation and operation of production-scale SOEC electrolysers and the collection of real-world performance data over two phases, with a view to scaling up green hydrogen generation across industrial applications.

The MOU was signed by Mr. Koichi Arimitsu, General Manager of Energy and Environment at Niterra Co., Ltd.; Dr. Graham King, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, The UWI St. Augustine; and Mr. Philip Julien, Chairman of Kenesjay Green Limited.The signing ceremony was hosted at The UWI’s Faculty of Engineering and attended by senior representatives of all three organizations.

 

Excited for the Prospects: Professor Bheshem Ramlal, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI St. Augustine Campus (centre) shakes hands with Mr. Philip Julien, Chairman, Kenesjay Green Limited (L) and Mr. Tadashi Watanabe, Director, Energy Business Strategy, Niterra Co., Ltd. (Japan) at the signing ceremony for the MOU held at the Faculty of Engineering, The UWI St. Augustine Campus on Wednesday, 15th October 2025.

This collaboration represents a major milestone in Trinidad and Tobago’s journey toward sustainable energy transformation and positions the country as a regional leader in green hydrogen research, technology development, and low-carbon innovation.

END

About Niterra Co., Ltd.:

Niterra Co., Ltd. Niterra Co., Ltd. (formerly NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.) was founded in 1936 in Nagoya, Japan. The company is well-known for its NGK spark plugs and NTK ceramic products. Niterra is now expanding into the growth fields of mobility, semiconductors, and environment & energy, with a particular focus on green hydrogen technologies.

About Kenesjay Green Limited (KGL):

Kenesjay Green Limited is a Trinidad and Tobago-based project development company focused on creating bankable, commercially viable energy transition projects. KGL is a regional leader in the origination and development of clean hydrogen and renewable energy solutions that drive a sustainable energy value chain across the Caribbean. 

About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics, and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu

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