Hyundai pushes for hydrogen power in G20 meet 

A TOP-ranked Hyundai official pushed for the adoption of hydrogen power at the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth held on June 15 and 16 in Karuizawa, Japan.

Euisun Chung, executive vice-chairman at Hyundai Motor Group, said a “hydrogen-powered society” is the “most viable solution” to a successful energy transition.

Chung, a cochairman of the Hydrogen Council, said hydrogen could account for almost one-fifth of total energy consumption by 2050.

In a statement, Hyundai said Chung urged leaders from all sectors, not only from energy and transport, to “join the Hydrogen Council in demonstrating the potential of hydrogen for tackling global energy needs.”   

During the meet, Chung stressed hydrogen “can help governments to deliver significant benefits for their citizens, energy security, environment and economy.” He added hydrogen, when deployed at a certain scale, would cut by roughly six gigatons the amount of annual carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, and would contribute about 20% to the necessary abatement in emissions in order to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.

The Hydrogen Council was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2017. It is a global CEO initiative pushing for hydrogen technologies in the global energy transition. It has 60 members from across industry sectors and key markets, which collectively provides 4.2 million jobs around the world.