Hyundai Motor Group Partners with Air Liquide to Expand Hydrogen Ecosystem

Co-Chairs of the Hydrogen Council

Hyundai Motor Group and global gas company Air Liquide have joined forces to expand the hydrogen ecosystem.

The two companies, both co-chairs of the Hydrogen Council-a global CEO-led initiative in the hydrogen sector-signed a strategic cooperation agreement to expand the hydrogen ecosystem on the 4th, during the Hydrogen Council CEO Meeting held in Seoul.

Hyundai Motor Group announced on the 5th that it signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Air Liquide on the 4th to expand the hydrogen ecosystem. From the right: Jang Jaehoon, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Head of Energy & Hydrogen Business Division at Hyundai Motor Group; Erwin Penfonis, Vice President of Hydrogen Energy Division at Air Liquide Group; Fran?ois Jacoby, Chairman of Air Liquide. Hyundai Motor Group

The signing ceremony was attended by Jang Jaehoon, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group; Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Head of Energy & Hydrogen Business Division at Hyundai Motor Group; Fran?ois Jackow, Chairman of Air Liquide Group; Erwin Penfornis, Vice President of Hydrogen Energy Division at Air Liquide Group; and other representatives from both companies.

Hyundai Motor Group and Air Liquide have designated Korea, the United States, and Europe as core hubs for building the hydrogen ecosystem, and will work to advance every stage of the hydrogen value chain-from production, storage, and transportation to utilization. In addition to expanding hydrogen mobility, they also plan to implement strategies for infrastructure development and securing a stable supply chain.

To this end, the companies are considering ways to expand the global hydrogen refueling station network and plan to pursue the development of various technologies to enhance the safety of green hydrogen production and utilization in the future.

Air Liquide is a France-based global gas company that provides technologies, products, and services utilizing gases in the industrial and medical sectors. The company is engaged in building hydrogen energy infrastructure, including hydrogen production, storage, transportation, as well as the construction, installation, and operation of hydrogen refueling stations. At the Hydrogen Council CEO Meeting, Air Liquide was selected as the new co-chair of the Hydrogen Council and will serve in this role alongside Hyundai Motor Group.

Since 2018, Hyundai Motor Group and Air Liquide have maintained a strategic partnership and have been major shareholders in Hydrogen Energy Network (HyNet) and Kohygen, both established to build and operate hydrogen refueling infrastructure in Korea.

Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President, said, "It is meaningful to further strengthen our strategic cooperation with Air Liquide. Together with Air Liquide, we will implement concrete projects to realize hydrogen as an efficient energy solution and contribute to building a sustainable society."

Armelle Levieux, President of Hydrogen Energy, Electronics, and Innovation at Air Liquide Group, stated, "Collaboration among leading companies is essential for expanding the hydrogen ecosystem. This strengthened partnership is a very significant step forward, and especially in Korea, our joint achievements are the most tangible example of the industry's collective efforts for a sustainable future."