Hydrogen economy forum discusses AI data center power solutions

At the 2nd Hydrogen Economy Grand Debate held in Seoul, experts and policymakers discussed expanding hydrogen's role from a simple fuel to a core pillar of the national energy strategy. A key focus was the potential synergy between hydrogen and Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers. As AI drives surging electricity demand, ‘on-site power generation’ using hydrogen fuel cells and turbines was proposed as a solution to provide power directly near facilities without relying on long-distance transmission grids.

Participants emphasized that hydrogen can serve as a vital energy storage medium to balance the intermittency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. However, several obstacles to market expansion were identified, including high production costs, uncertain demand, and the need for stable infrastructure.

Industry leaders and lawmakers called for consistent, long-term government policies to reduce investment uncertainty. Suggestions included a phased transition from gray and blue hydrogen to green hydrogen, expanding production tax credits, and establishing predictable market systems to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the hydrogen supply chain.