Hyundai Motor Group co-hosted the Hydrogen Council Global CEO Summit from December 2 to 4 in Seoul, Korea, bringing together about 200 global leaders and policymakers to set the strategic direction for the global hydrogen industry. This landmark event represents a pivotal moment for the hydrogen sector. The global hydrogen generation market size was valued at USD 186.58 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD value 317.39 by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2025 to 2030.
The summit demonstrates how Hyundai hydrogen strategy is driving meaningful change across the automotive hydrogen council and positioning Korea as a global innovation hub. Recent industry developments show remarkable momentum, with low-emissions hydrogen production from projects that are today operational or have reached FID is set to reach 4.2 Mtpa by 2030, a fivefold increase compared with 2024 production.
The Scale and Significance of the Hydrogen CEO Summit
This unprecedented gathering marked several historical firsts for the hydrogen industry. The CEO Summit is the first global business event to exclusively utilize hydrogen-powered vehicles for all transportation, highlighting the Group’s dedication to pioneering sustainable mobility and supporting the global shift toward a hydrogen-driven economy. Such a demonstration showcases practical applications of hydrogen technology.
As Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, the Group will provide full logistical support with its fleet of 50 Hyundai NEXO fuel cell electric vehicles and six UNIVERSE fuel cell buses, setting a new precedent for sustainability in event operations. The deployment of these vehicles represents more than symbolic gesture. It demonstrates operational readiness of hydrogen infrastructure.
The summit brought together an impressive coalition of industry leaders. The event underscores Korea’s emergence as a hydrogen innovation hub and Hyundai Motor Group’s leadership in the clean energy transition. Government officials from Korea, France, Germany, and Australia participated, reflecting global commitment to hydrogen development.
Strategic Direction Under the “Hydrogen 2030” Vision
The Hydrogen Council Global CEO Summit, held under the theme “Hydrogen 2030: Lead. Build. Deliver.”, fostered collaboration among industries, governments and international organizations to accelerate the growth of the hydrogen ecosystem. This theme encapsulates the industry’s shift from planning to implementation.
The strategic roadmap emerging from Seoul focuses on three critical areas. First, demand creation represents the industry’s most pressing challenge. This CEO Summit underscored a decisive shift for the hydrogen industry, moving beyond ambition to action as leaders aligned on practical steps to unlock demand, scale infrastructure and accelerate global collaboration.
Infrastructure expansion forms the second pillar of the Hyundai hydrogen strategy. Delegates will also have the chance to explore Korea’s hydrogen mobility ecosystem firsthand, including a Ride & Drive experience featuring the NEXO SUVs and visits to key hydrogen infrastructure sites, including the National Assembly hydrogen refueling station. These hands-on demonstrations proved infrastructure viability.
The third element involves regulatory frameworks and standardization. The CEO Summit will center on driving the next phase of hydrogen development by addressing key priorities such as demand growth, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure expansion and standardization. Harmonized standards enable global market development.
Market Growth Dynamics and Industry Transformation
Market projections reveal explosive growth potential across multiple hydrogen segments. The hydrogen market size crossed USD 204.5 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.2% from 2025 to 2034, due to the growing trend to decarbonize these industries by switching to low-carbon hydrogen production methods. This growth trajectory reflects increasing adoption across industrial sectors.
Green hydrogen specifically shows even more dramatic expansion prospects. The Global Green Hydrogen Market Size is projected to Grow from USD 7.67 Billion in 2024 to USD 328.4 Billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 40.71% during the forecast period 2025–2035. Such rapid growth indicates transformational market shifts.
The automotive hydrogen council plays a crucial role in this transformation. Transportation applications drive significant hydrogen demand, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles where battery electric solutions face limitations. In all other AEO2025 cases, the transportation sector accounts for most of rising hydrogen consumption as hydrogen fuel cells in heavy-duty vehicles are deployed to meet policy standards.
Industrial applications represent another major growth driver. Industries including steel, cement, and chemicals are opting for green hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in high-temperature processes. Green hydrogen offers a route to decarbonizing these hard-to-abate sectors, which are especially difficult to electrify. These applications demonstrate hydrogen’s versatility.
Korea’s Emerging Role in Global Hydrogen Leadership
Korea’s position as a hydrogen innovation hub gained international recognition during the summit. Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, said: As Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, we are honored to host the Global CEO Summit 2025 and proud to welcome global leaders to South Korea where we are delighted to showcase the strength and progress of Korea’s hydrogen industry.
The Korean government’s commitment to hydrogen development supports this leadership position. Policy frameworks and infrastructure investments create favorable conditions for hydrogen industry growth. According to the recent government plan, China will produce 100,000 to 200,000 tons of renewable-based hydrogen per year by 2025 and will have a fleet of 50,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles. Regional competition drives innovation.
Korea’s technological capabilities in hydrogen production and application set global standards. A video captured by Doosan Mobility Innovation’s hydrogen drone will be screened, underscoring Korea’s technological leadership in hydrogen innovation. Such demonstrations showcase advanced technological capabilities.
Public-Private Collaboration Models
The summit emphasized collaborative approaches to hydrogen development. Hydrogen is not only a climate solution but a cornerstone for energy security and industrial competitiveness. The message from Seoul is clear: with solid policy support and strong public-private collaboration, the industry will deliver real impact.
Government participation from multiple countries signals strong policy support. Government officials from Korea, France, Germany and Australia, along with the International Organization for Standardization President Sung Hwan Cho, reaffirmed demand-side policies and shared public-private investment roadmaps. Such coordination enables market development.
Financial mechanisms require continued development to support hydrogen projects. For example, although final investments decisions (FIDs) continue to trail well behind announcements, more than 200 low-emissions hydrogen production projects have received them since 2020, when there was only a handful of demonstration projects in operation. Investment momentum builds gradually.
Technological Innovation and Cost Reduction
Technology advancement drives market viability for hydrogen solutions. Advances in electrolysis, fuel cells, and storage technology are steadily reducing production costs, especially for green hydrogen, improving its commercial viability and enabling more scalable projects. Cost reductions enable broader adoption.
The Hyundai hydrogen strategy leverages comprehensive technological capabilities. Through its dedicated hydrogen brand and business platform, HTWO, the Group leverages end-to-end expertise—from production and storage to application—to accelerate innovation. Integrated approaches optimize system performance.
Innovation extends beyond production technologies to applications. Innovation is also moving at an impressive pace, with a record number of technologies across the hydrogen value chain showing significant progress. Technological diversity supports market growth.
Infrastructure Development Challenges and Solutions
Infrastructure represents a critical bottleneck for hydrogen adoption. While the uptake of low-emissions hydrogen is not yet meeting the ambitions set in recent years – held back by high costs, uncertain demand and regulatory environments, and slow infrastructure development – there are still notable signs of growth. Infrastructure development requires coordinated effort.
Pipeline infrastructure shows particular promise for hydrogen distribution. Green Hydrogen Pipeline Market size reached US 16 55 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US 51 37 billion by 2032 growing with a CAGR of 15 21 during the forecast period 2025 2032. Pipeline networks enable large-scale distribution.
Regional infrastructure initiatives demonstrate practical progress. August 2025 – A major energy infrastructure company advanced its 1,200-mile green hydrogen transmission pipeline, connecting new renewable hydrogen hubs across the Midwest and Gulf Coast. July 2025 – A U.S. utility initiated engineering for a blended hydrogen-natural gas pipeline, enabling up to 20% hydrogen injection for industrial and residential use.
Global Industry Leadership Changes
The summit witnessed significant leadership developments. New Leadership: François Jackow, CEO of Air Liquide, joined Chang as Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, reinforcing global hydrogen collaboration and leadership. Leadership diversity strengthens global hydrogen strategy.
Industry consolidation continues as major players expand their hydrogen capabilities. Linde PLC (Market Leader) leads the hydrogen market with strong investments in large-scale green and blue hydrogen projects, supported by its global infrastructure and long-standing expertise in industrial gases. The company leverages advanced electrolyzer technology, carbon capture solutions, and extensive distribution networks to accelerate clean hydrogen adoption across mobility, refining, and heavy industry applications. Its diversified portfolio and focus on decarbonization position it as the dominant player driving market growth.
Regional Market Developments and Opportunities
Asia Pacific emerges as the dominant hydrogen market region. The Asia Pacific dominated the hydrogen generation market in terms of revenue with the highest share of 35.34% in 2024. Regional concentration creates economies of scale.
European markets also show significant growth potential. Surge in consumption across industrial, transportation and energy domains is propelling the market growth in Europe. Joint ventures and cooperative activities are anticipated to further enhance hydrogen’s role in the European clean energy value chain. Cross-border collaboration accelerates development.
Government policy support varies by region but generally increases. The French government is investing US$ 7.5 billion in hydrogen infrastructure by 2030, supporting its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 35% cut in industrial emissions by 2030. Plans include installing 6.5 GW of hydrogen production capacity using renewable and nuclear energy. Policy commitment drives investment.
Future Outlook and Strategic Implications
The summit established clear priorities for hydrogen industry development through 2030. Leaders unveiled a communique prioritizing demand creation, infrastructure growth and global standards to scale hydrogen by 2030. Strategic focus enables coordinated action.
Long-term market projections indicate sustained growth across hydrogen applications. Despite the recalibration of industry plans, low-emissions hydrogen production is expected to grow strongly by 2030. While this is much lower than government and industry ambitions at the start of this decade, it represents growth from less than 1% of total hydrogen production today to around 4% in 2030.
The Hyundai hydrogen strategy positions the company for long-term leadership in this evolving market. As a pioneer in hydrogen mobility, Hyundai Motor Group reinforces its commitment to driving the global energy transition through hydrogen-powered solutions. First-mover advantages support market position.
The global hydrogen industry strategy emerging from Seoul demonstrates remarkable consensus among industry leaders, governments, and technology developers. This collaborative approach, exemplified by the Hydrogen Council Global CEO Summit, creates the foundation for sustained growth and technological advancement across the hydrogen value chain. As demand creation, infrastructure development, and regulatory standardization progress simultaneously, the hydrogen economy moves closer to commercial viability at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main focus of the Hyundai Motor Group CEO Summit on hydrogen strategy?
The summit focused on setting strategic direction for the global hydrogen industry, bringing together 200+ leaders to address demand creation, infrastructure expansion, and regulatory standardization under the theme “Hydrogen 2030: Lead. Build. Deliver.”
How large is the global hydrogen market expected to grow by 2030?
The global hydrogen generation market is projected to reach $317.39 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2025, with low-emissions hydrogen production expected to increase fivefold by 2030.
What makes this hydrogen CEO summit unique in industry history?
This summit was the first global business event to exclusively utilize hydrogen-powered vehicles for all transportation, featuring 50 Hyundai NEXO fuel cell SUVs and six UNIVERSE fuel cell buses, setting a new sustainability precedent.
Which countries participated in the hydrogen industry strategy discussions?
Government officials from Korea, France, Germany, and Australia participated, along with representatives from nearly 100 hydrogen companies worldwide, demonstrating global commitment to hydrogen development.
What role does Korea play in the global hydrogen strategy?
Korea has emerged as a hydrogen innovation hub, showcasing advanced hydrogen infrastructure, technological leadership through companies like Hyundai Motor Group, and hosting major industry summits to drive global collaboration.
How does Hyundai’s HTWO platform support their hydrogen strategy?
HTWO is Hyundai’s dedicated hydrogen brand and business platform that leverages end-to-end expertise from production and storage to application, accelerating innovation across the complete hydrogen value chain.
What are the main challenges facing hydrogen industry growth?
Key challenges include high costs, uncertain demand, slow infrastructure development, and evolving regulatory environments, though over 200 low-emissions hydrogen production projects have received final investment decisions since 2020.
