Asia's hydrogen sector pivots to pragmatic, industrial projects as early hype fades

Discussions at the Gastech Conference in Bangkok underscored that the hydrogen market in Asia is moving from speculative hype to concrete, demand-driven projects. Experts noted that investors require reliable buyers and supportive policies to fund low-emission hydrogen, a challenge evident in delayed or cancelled projects worldwide. Japan, having spent a decade grappling with the chicken-and-egg problem of fuel-cell cars, is now channeling billions of yen into industrial applications such as steel, shipping and ammonia production.

Southeast Asia, which currently relies on hydrogen produced from natural gas, has announced sizable low-emission capacity plans, yet only a small fraction have secured final investment decisions. Regional collaborations, like the EGAT-JERA partnership, are examining hydrogen-ammonia supply chains to improve transport and storage. Industry leaders stress that early government support should focus on getting initial projects operational, after which costs are expected to fall and competitiveness improve.