Obayashi Corporation at the "Energy Evolution" Seminar: Obayashi Corporation's Global Hydrogen Vision and Strategy
Date: September 3, 2026 | Annie Nguyễn, VAHC Secretariat
At the "Energy Evolution: Empowering the Future of Industrial Energy" seminar hosted by Phoenix Contact and supported by Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club, held on August 20, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Tran Nguyen, representing Obayashi Corporation, delivered a significant presentation on the group's global hydrogen business strategy and its projects in the ASEAN region, particularly in Vietnam.
Dr. Tran Nguyen speaking at the Seminar
Overview of Obayashi Corporation and Net-Zero Commitment
Dr. Tran Nguyen opened by introducing Obayashi Corporation – one of Japan's leading construction and engineering groups with over 130 years of experience, providing services across the entire construction value chain, from urban planning and design to construction, real estate development, and maintenance/renovation. The group's revenue reached 16.9 billion USD (as of March 2025).
He emphasized Obayashi's strong commitment to the Net Zero emissions target by 2050, through its 2050 Sustainability Vision. The group focuses on two main approaches: energy saving in construction activities and energy generation through its renewable energy business.
Renewable Energy Capabilities
In Japan, Obayashi has been involved in renewable energy since 2012 and currently operates 37 renewable energy plants with a total capacity of 285 MW, including solar, onshore/offshore wind, biomass, and geothermal power. Its subsidiary, OBAYASHI CLEAN ENERGY CORPORATION (OCE), specializes in power generation projects. The Akita - Noshiro offshore wind farm (140MW) is Japan's first large-scale offshore wind project.
Obayashi is also expanding overseas, with renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka (biomass) and New Zealand (geothermal, solar, hydro) through the acquisition of a 50% stake in Eastland Generation in 2024.
Global Hydrogen Development Strategy
Dr. Tran Nguyen emphasized Obayashi's hydrogen strategy focused on three pillars: Produce – Transport/Store – Use. Notable projects include:
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Kokonoe, Oita Project: Using geothermal electricity (125kW) to produce green hydrogen (10 Nm³/h) and transport it via high-pressure tube trailers (20MPa, 180Nm³) to consumption points like refuelling stations and stationary fuel cells.
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Namie, Fukushima Project: Building a renewable hydrogen supply chain from the Fukushima Hydrogen Research Field (FH2R), with stationary fuel cells and portable generators.
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Kawasaki "Smart Community" Project: Developing a 1MW integrated hydrogen CGS system supplying electricity and heat to five public facilities, achieving the world's first pure hydrogen supply in an urban area in 2018.
Hydrogen Projects in New Zealand and Asia-Pacific
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Halcyon Project (Taupo, New Zealand): New Zealand's first MW-class green hydrogen production plant using geothermal power.
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POAL Project (Ports of Auckland): A hydrogen refuelling station at Auckland Port.
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Fiji Project (2024): Successful demonstration of sea transport of green hydrogen from New Zealand to Fiji for use in a dual-fuel generator.
Opportunities and Challenges in Vietnam
A key part of Dr. Tran Nguyen's presentation focused on the context and opportunities in Vietnam. He noted that while Vietnam's renewable energy policies are developing, power grid infrastructure delays have led to output restrictions, hindering renewable energy projects.
This presents an opportunity for Obayashi's business model: storing surplus renewable energy as hydrogen and delivering it to consumers without relying on the power grid. This proposal is seen as a suitable solution to address grid connectivity challenges and optimize green energy utilization in Vietnam.
Conclusion
Dr. Tran Nguyen concluded by reaffirming Obayashi's commitment to supporting Vietnam's energy transition and opening cooperation opportunities with local partners in the hydrogen value chain. The presentation received significant interest and positive engagement from attendees.
