Analysis by Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Lương on Hydrogen Policy in Transportation
The presentation "Policy Directions for Hydrogen in Transportation" by Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Lương, Senior Hydrogen Expert from the Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI), at the seminar organized by the Vietnam-ASEAN Hydrogen Club and UEF University, went beyond discussing specific hydrogen injection technologies and provided a comprehensive, strategic picture of hydrogen’s role in Vietnam’s energy transition and emission reduction journey, especially in the transportation sector.
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Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Lương presenting at the seminar
Below are the key, insightful points from the presentation:
1. Strategic Vision: From Global to Vietnam
Dr. Lương did not start immediately with technical solutions but framed the issue in a broader context:
Global Context: He emphasized that hydrogen (particularly Green Hydrogen – GH₂) is an indispensable pillar in the global energy transition roadmap toward Net Zero, according to reputable reports from IRENA and BP. Hydrogen plays a critical role in:
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Renewable energy storage.
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Grid stabilization.
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Carbon reduction in hard-to-abate sectors such as long-haul transport (trucks, shipping) and heavy industry (steel, chemicals).
International Trends: The slide on "Hydrogen Strategy Development" showed that more than 74 countries have already developed or are developing hydrogen strategies, making it a global technology and market race. This implicitly underscores that Vietnam cannot remain on the sidelines if it wants to keep pace.
This approach demonstrates the vision of a strategic expert: he “leads” the audience from a specific technical issue (hydrogen injection) to a national strategic issue, forming the basis for the necessity of concrete solutions.
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2. Assessment of Vietnam’s Current Status and Opportunities: Balancing Optimism with Caution
The analysis of Vietnam’s opportunities and challenges presents a realistic and comprehensive view:
Opportunities:
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Abundant renewable energy potential (solar, wind) to produce low-cost GH₂, a core competitive advantage.
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A large domestic market in key sectors: power, transportation, steel, cement, oil refining.
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International support for finance, technology, and policy development.
Challenges:
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Immature technology and high costs, which is the biggest barrier to be acknowledged.
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Infrastructure for the entire value chain from production, storage, transportation, to refueling stations is almost non-existent.
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Lack of market demand and the need for a long-term policy framework.
The balance between opportunities and challenges shows that the presentation is not merely promotional but also candid about upcoming difficulties, providing policymakers and businesses with a multi-dimensional view for decision-making.
3. Policy Proposals for Transportation: Specific, Phased, and Feasible
This is the core part, highlighting the academic and practical value of the presentation. Dr. Lương’s proposals are not general but highly specific:
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Based on Legal Documents: He cited key Prime Ministerial Decisions (876, 899, 165, 768) to demonstrate that his proposals fully align with and help implement the government’s existing directives and policies. This increases both persuasiveness and feasibility.
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Three-phase Roadmap (2025–2030, 2031–2035, 2036–2050):
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Phase 1 (Pilot): Focus on hydrogen buses and trucks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and experiments with ammonia/methanol for shipping. Strong incentives on taxes, fees, and subsidies.
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Phase 2 (Expansion): Increase the share of buses and trucks to 5–10%, shipping fuel share to 5–10%. Begin building supply infrastructure.
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Phase 3 (Commercialization): Achieve at least 20% adoption for both vehicles and shipping. Complete infrastructure systems. Gradually reduce incentives, moving toward mandatory measures and carbon pricing.
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Flexible Policy Toolkit: He proposed a “policy mix” adjusted for each phase, shifting from support measures (incentives, subsidies) to mandatory measures (compulsory roadmap, carbon pricing). This is a very practical approach, aligned with market development.
4. Connection to the Seminar Theme: From General to Specific
Although the presentation was at a macro level, it subtly linked to the seminar’s specific theme of “hydrogen injection technology”:
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Developing hydrogen buses and trucks in the roadmap is a direct application of hydrogen internal combustion engines or fuel cells, where hydrogen injection and combustion technology is central.
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By building a comprehensive policy and market framework, the presentation created “room” for specific technologies like hydrogen injection. Without policy, roadmap, and infrastructure, even the best technologies would struggle to be widely deployed.
Conclusion
Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Lương’s presentation was not merely a seminar speech but resembled a meticulously constructed Mini Policy Proposal, based on both global and domestic data. He successfully conveyed a key message: for hydrogen technologies (such as hydrogen injection) to thrive in Vietnam, a comprehensive strategy, a clear roadmap, and a flexible policy package must be implemented in a coordinated manner at the macro level, not just in isolated technical studies.
This presentation deserves to be an important reference for government agencies such as the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as businesses seeking to invest in this highly potential green hydrogen sector.
