The Japan-South Korea hydrogen sweepstakes

Both energy-poor countries are expected to be importing blue and green hydrogen in volume by 2028-30

Energy-poor and land-constrained Japan and South Korea are widely viewed as the greatest prizes in the low-carbon hydrogen export sweepstakes. Since 2017, they have both released roadmaps to develop hydrogen economies to counter domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and produce hydrogen-related technologies and equipment for export. Japan and South Korea are expected to be importing low-carbon hydrogen—the blue and green varieties—in volume by 2028 to 2030. To date, Japanese entities have signed a number of deals with foreign governments and companies to get the low-carbon hydrogen ball rolling, whereas the South Korean government appears to be taking a more systematic approach to sourcing