Participation in 'World Hydrogen Summit 2025'
Jaehoon Chang: "Scaling Up and Standardization Are Key for the Hydrogen Economy"
Hyundai Motor Group participated in the 'World Hydrogen Summit 2025' held at the Ahoy Convention Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from May 20 to 22 (local time), further solidifying its position as a global leader in the hydrogen sector. Now in its sixth year, this event is the world's largest hydrogen industry expo, covering key topics such as hydrogen-related mobility, production, infrastructure, regulation, and investment.
Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, is speaking at the 'World Hydrogen Summit 2025' IHTF panel discussion held on the 21st (local time) at the Ahoy Convention Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Hyundai Motor Company
This year, more than 15,000 participants attended, including government officials from over 130 countries and representatives from more than 500 companies. They exchanged a wide range of views on the hydrogen economy and discussed new directions for cooperation and development. Hyundai Motor Group shared updates on its ongoing hydrogen business and exchanged various opinions to accelerate the development of the hydrogen industry.
Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group and co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, participated in the International Hydrogen Trade Forum (IHTF) meeting. The event was attended by government representatives from 10 countries, including the Netherlands, Chile, Japan, and Germany, as well as 15 companies such as the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The IHTF is a global consultative body established to promote hydrogen trade, launched at the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) held in India in 2023. During the meeting and panel discussion, participants discussed the impact of geopolitical changes on each country's hydrogen supply chain, practical measures to promote hydrogen trade and investment, and strategies to activate lead markets.
Vice Chairman Chang emphasized, "Although there are projections that the spread of the global hydrogen economy will be delayed more than expected due to external factors such as inflation and low growth, everyone agrees that decarbonization is an unstoppable trend." The participants also agreed on the importance of securing hydrogen price competitiveness and building supply chains, noting that governments must take proactive measures to expand demand through stable hydrogen prices and to create a virtuous cycle by vitalizing global supply chains.
In particular, there was a consensus on the need to establish a clean hydrogen certification system and mutual evaluation standards that can be used by all countries internationally. Government and business representatives also identified joint action areas to strengthen global trade partnerships and supply chains, including strengthening financial support and incentives through the implementation of national hydrogen policies, discussing ways to enhance geographical advantages and industrial competitiveness that both hydrogen exporting and importing countries can benefit from, and developing sustainable products and infrastructure.
Vice Chairman Chang stated, "The hydrogen ecosystem can only be realized through partnerships between governments and businesses in each country," adding, "Hyundai Motor Group will also work with global partners to expand the hydrogen ecosystem." He continued, "We will take the lead in accelerating a hydrogen-based future society by actively utilizing our group's capabilities across the entire hydrogen value chain."
He further added, "The most important factors in promoting the transition to a hydrogen economy going forward are 'scaling up' and 'standardization'," and emphasized, "At a time when scaling up is necessary to vitalize the hydrogen business, standardization must drive the overall hydrogen industry."
Hyundai Motor Group booth set up at the exhibition hall of the 'World Hydrogen Summit 2025'. Hyundai Motor
Hyundai Motor Group set up a booth at the event venue, showcasing various hydrogen-related technologies and applications, including the current status of port decarbonization and clean logistics projects, as well as a diorama of Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen business and a mock-up of its fuel cell system. The company also announced plans to provide integrated solutions across the entire hydrogen value chain and to expand its hydrogen business brand 'HTWO' as a business platform for hydrogen business expansion.
Meanwhile, on May 19, Vice Chairman Chang visited the Air Liquide Innovation Campus in Paris, France, to discuss a partnership between the two companies for the expansion of the hydrogen ecosystem. He met with Francois Jackow, CEO of Air Liquide, to review the current status of both companies' businesses and exchanged views on collaboration utilizing the Hydrogen Council. The two companies have continued to cooperate in areas such as revitalizing the hydrogen electric vehicle market, increasing the use of hydrogen as a clean renewable energy source, and developing business models related to hydrogen refueling stations.
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