EVENTS

Explore Asia’s hydrogen revolution: from national strategies and industrial deployment to cutting-edge storage technologies shaping a carbon-neutral future.

The Asian hydrogen market is developing rapidly, with national strategies and large-scale initiatives emerging across Japan, China, Korea, India, and ASEAN nations. Green transformation (GX) has become a pillar for achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable economic growth, particularly in countries heavily dependent on oil and gas imports, such as China and Japan^[1]. Within this broader transition, green hydrogen has gained increasing strategic importance, not only as a clean energy carrier, but also as a key enabler for decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors.

Since Japan introduced its pioneering national basic hydrogen strategy in 2014, more than 60 national hydrogen strategies have emerged worldwide^[2-4]. China followed with its first national medium- and long-term hydrogen development plan in 2022^[5], aimed at integrating renewable energy and hydrogen systems to support the transition to a carbon-neutral society. Similar momentum is now evident across Korea, India, and ASEAN nations, each pursuing distinct policy frameworks, deployment pathways, and industrial priorities. These developments highlight Asia’s growing role in shaping the global hydrogen landscape.

While policy direction and market design are critical, technological readiness remains a key enabler of hydrogen deployment. Hydrogen presents unique challenges in storage and transport due to its low critical temperature and high compressibility. Compared with conventional approaches such as high-pressure compression or cryogenic storage, solid-state hydrogen storage using metal hydrides offers promising advantages, including higher storage density, lower operating pressures, and enhanced safety^[6,7]. This webinar will highlight recent advances in hydrogen storage technologies within the broader context of deployment readiness and industrial use.

About the session

Hydrogen energy in Asia offers enormous potential, but realising this potential requires a holistic understanding of policy frameworks, technological progress, and evolving market dynamics. This session will examine hydrogen development from a strategic regional perspective, addressing key questions such as:

• What national strategies and flagship projects are driving hydrogen deployment across Asia?
• How are technical demonstrations, particularly in hydrogen storage, supporting industrial adoption?
• What emerging trends and insights can help guide future hydrogen research, policy development, and industrial opportunities?

Professor Dr Hai-Wen Li (School of Advanced Energy, Sun Yat-sen University) will provide a comprehensive overview of hydrogen progress in Asia, with a focus on Japan and China, while also highlighting emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities across the wider region.

Agenda

• 12:00 – 12:10 – Welcome and introduction
• 12:10 – 12:45 – Keynote presentation: Hydrogen energy in Asia – national strategies, technical demonstrations, and industrial applications
• 12:45 – 13:00 – Q&A session

Meet the speaker

Professor Dr Hai-Wen Li, Sun Yat-sen University

Dr Hai-Wen Li is a tenured Full Professor at the School of Advanced Energy, Sun Yat-sen University (Shenzhen Campus), China. He has extensive academic experience, having served as a Postdoctoral Researcher, JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow, and Assistant Professor at the Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Japan (2005–2011). From 2011 to 2020, he was an Associate Professor at the International Research Centre for Hydrogen Energy and the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research at Kyushu University, Japan. He later served as a Professor at the Hefei General Machinery Research Institute, China (2020–2024).

Dr Li’s research focuses on advanced materials and systems for hydrogen storage and rechargeable batteries. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and received multiple awards, including Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials, JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship, and JSPS Grant for Young Researchers (A). He also serves as an Expert for the Hydrogen Storage Task at the International Energy Agency and is a committee member for hydrogen energy initiatives in China.

Who should attend?

This session is designed for anyone seeking a strategic, region-wide understanding of hydrogen energy in Asia, including:

• Researchers and academics exploring hydrogen systems and enabling technologies
• Industry professionals and investors assessing clean energy and industrial decarbonisation opportunities
• Policymakers and government representatives shaping national and regional hydrogen strategies
• Stakeholders interested in the broader context of hydrogen research and market development

Register now to gain a deeper understanding of hydrogen’s evolving role in Asia – from national strategies and policy frameworks to emerging technologies and industrial pathways.

Register now to secure your place

References

1. https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/energy-market/
2. H.-W. Li, N. Nishimiya, Insight from Japan’s Hydrogen Strategy and Activities. Engineering 7 (2021) 722.
3. https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/enecho/shoene_shinene/suiso_seisaku/pdf/20230606_5.pdf
4. https://www.irena.org/Publications/2024/Jul/Green-hydrogen-strategy-A-guide-to-design
5. https://en.ndrc.gov.cn/news/pressreleases/202203/t20220329_1321487.html
6. K. T. Møller, T. R. Jensen, E. Akiba, H.-W. Li, Hydrogen – A sustainable energy carrier. Prog. Nat. Sci.: Mater. Int. 27 (2017) 34.
7. K. Sasaki, H.-W. Li, A. Hayashi, J. Yamabe, T. Ogura, S. Lyth, Hydrogen Energy Engineering: A Japanese Perspective. Springer (2016).