A public-private Japanese partnership is to kick-start an end-to-end low-carbon hydrogen supply chain.

This will see the chain use hydrogen that is generated from renewable energy sources and use it to power forklifts, reports Logistics Manager.

Throughout the supply chain it's expected that the hydrogen system will reduce CO2 emissions by around 80 per cent when compared to other standard forklifts that are powered by either grid technology or gasoline.

Forming a partnership to make this happen are the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, the governments from Yokohama and Kawasaki and three private sector companies, one of which is Toyota.

To generate the electricity, it will be created at the Yokohama City Wind Power Plant. Once it is compressed and stored it will then be taken to a nearby factory and warehouses by a hydrogen-powered truck.

It's expected that this innovation will not only make a huge difference to this particular supply chain in Japan, but also that it will spread into markets in other countries.