Asian countries building hydrogen economies look to transport sector
Asian nations including India, Japan, China, and South Korea are investing in hydrogen-powered transport to decarbonize their economies. While commercial viability is expected to take decades, pilot projects in rail and heavy trucking are currently underway.
Why it matters
Hydrogen technology is being positioned as a critical tool for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, influencing future energy and transportation infrastructure.
A swath of Asian governments is trying to get ahead of the curve on hydrogen-powered transport.
While the technology is years or even decades away from commercial success, its potential as a sustainable energy source has countries like India, Japan, China and South Korea working to establish programs to try it out.
The motivations vary. Japan's push is part of its hydrogen society roadmap, while South Korea's reflects conglomerates' focus on integrated industrial hydrogen ecosystem that may include rail, according to Ravi Krishnaswamy, managing director at Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific. China is building its fuel-cell supply chain for export competitiveness, while India is focusing on low-cost rail retrofits in line with its national self-sufficiency vision.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in