Vietnam-America Hydrogen Workshop 2026 “Advanced Hydrogen Technologies and the Semiconductor Supply Chain – Vietnam & ASEAN” Post-Event Summary Ho Chi Minh City, April 10, 2026
On April 10, 2026, the Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC), in collaboration with Solberg Manufacturing (USA), successfully hosted the Vietnam-America Hydrogen Workshop 2026 at the Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event brought together leading experts, companies from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and international partners to share the latest developments in global and regional hydrogen markets, showcase cutting-edge hydrogen production technologies, and explore practical collaboration opportunities in Vietnam and ASEAN.
Under the theme “Advanced Hydrogen Technologies and the Semiconductor Supply Chain – Vietnam & ASEAN”, the workshop highlighted hydrogen’s critical role in powering clean, stable energy for the semiconductor industry and hard-to-abate sectors. Presentations were organized around four key pillars: policy & finance, projects & investment, production technology, and systems & safety.
Key Highlights from the Presentations:
- Mr. Andy Lei (Vice President, VAHC) presented “Vietnam Hydrogen Market Overview & Execution Blueprint,” outlining Vietnam’s national policy progress, ongoing projects, and a concrete action plan through 2030–2050.
- Dr. Tran Nguyen Trong Nguyen (Kenzen Consulting, representing Obayashi Corporation – Japan) provided an update on Obayashi’s global hydrogen investments and the status of the Long An project in Vietnam. He also detailed Obayashi’s strategy for exporting green hydrogen from New Zealand to Japan and Singapore, including the proposal to establish a New Zealand Hydrogen Export Consortium.
- Mr. Matthew Degyansky (CEO, Drive On, LLC – representing Utility Global, USA) introduced H2Gen®, a breakthrough technology that produces low-carbon hydrogen from water without using electricity, offering the smallest footprint and lowest carbon intensity in the industry. The technology targets hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, low-carbon fuels, refining, petrochemicals, and upstream oil & gas (which together account for up to 50% of global emissions).
- Mr. Gary Siah (APAC Representative, Solberg Manufacturing – USA) presented advanced cathode air filtration solutions for fuel cells, focusing on removing particulates, vapors, gases, and aerosols to significantly improve fuel cell efficiency and lifespan.
Other notable contributions included updates on the Japan Credit Mechanism (JCM) and carbon finance by Mr. Ianton Tan (United Hydrogen) and Ms. Tomoe Kobayashi (Nippon Koei), as well as South Korea’s national hydrogen safety framework by Dr. Hee Jung Kim (UNIHYS).
The workshop concluded with a lively Q&A and discussion session on cooperation opportunities in Vietnam, followed by the signing ceremony for the transfer of Hydrogen Inhalation Equipment between Hydrogen World and the Central Psychiatric Hospital 2. Mr. Andy Lei delivered closing remarks, reaffirming VAHC’s commitment to bridging international technology with Vietnam’s needs.
The event firmly positioned Vietnam as an emerging hydrogen hub in ASEAN, backed by abundant renewable resources, improving policies, and strong interest from leading U.S., Japanese, and Korean corporations.
Individual Speaker Presentation Summaries
1. Mr. Andy Lei – “Vietnam Hydrogen Market Overview & Execution Blueprint” (Reference: Andy Lei VAHC 10APRIL
Mr. Andy Lei delivered a comprehensive overview of Vietnam’s hydrogen market as of March 2026 and unveiled the Vietnam Hydrogen Execution Blueprint — a detailed roadmap to move from planning to large-scale project implementation.
Key points included:
- Progress on national policies (Decision 165/QĐ-TTg and the upcoming National Hydrogen Strategy).
- Current pilot projects in industrial parks, seaports, and high-renewable-energy regions.
- Main challenges: infrastructure, financing, standards, and supply chain development.
- Concrete action steps: developing H2 hubs in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting FDI, building domestic demand, and preparing for green hydrogen exports to Japan, Korea, and the EU.
Mr. Lei confirmed that VAHC will continue to support international partners in implementing the Blueprint throughout 2026–2027.
2. Dr. Tran Nguyen Trong Nguyen (Kenzen Consulting – representing Obayashi Corporation, Japan)
Drawing on Obayashi’s 40+ years of renewable energy experience (37 operating renewable power plants totaling 285 MW in Japan, plus projects in Sri Lanka and New Zealand), Dr. Tran Nguyen Trong Nguyen presented Obayashi’s global hydrogen strategy and the current status of its Long An project in Vietnam.
Highlights:
- Successful biomass project in Sri Lanka (3.3 MW operating since 2019) and ongoing developments in New Zealand (3 geothermal, 1 solar, 1 hydro).
- Strategy for Green Hydrogen Export from New Zealand (leveraging >85% renewable electricity) to Japan and Singapore, including Phase 2 demonstration in Singapore to replace diesel generators at Obayashi construction sites.
- Proposal to establish the New Zealand Hydrogen Export Consortium to coordinate production, transportation, and offtake.
- Plans to build a green hydrogen certification system aligned with international standards.
Obayashi expressed strong interest in partnering with Vietnamese stakeholders for large-scale hydrogen projects between 2026 and 2030.
3. Mr. Matthew Degyansky (CEO, Drive On, LLC – representing Utility Global, USA)
Mr. Matthew Degyansky introduced H2Gen®, Utility Global’s revolutionary technology for economic industrial decarbonization. H2Gen® produces hydrogen directly from water and industrial/biogenic off-gases without electricity, achieving the lowest carbon intensity and smallest footprint available today.
Key features presented:
- Targets hard-to-abate sectors (steel, low-carbon fuels, refining, petrochemicals, upstream oil & gas) that represent up to 50% of global emissions.
- Addressable market sizes: Steel ($225B), Low-Carbon Fuels ($870B), Chemicals ($200B), etc.
- First commercial project: modular 40-foot ISO container in Canada (2024).
- “Frontier” showcase facility in Houston (2025) for customer visits and technology validation.
- Strong strategic owners: Ara, Aramco, ArcelorMittal, Samsung, Ontario Power Generation, Saint-Gobain.
- World-class industry advisors: Dr. Henrik Adam (former Tata Steel & ThyssenKrupp executive) and Tetsuya Shioda (former Nippon Steel decarbonization leader).
Utility Global positioned H2Gen® as a game-changing solution for Vietnam and ASEAN’s decarbonization roadmap.
4. Mr. Gary Siah (APAC Representative, Solberg Manufacturing, USA)
Mr. Gary Siah presented Solberg’s advanced cathode air filtration solutions for PEM fuel cells, emphasizing the critical role of ultra-clean inlet air in maximizing fuel cell performance and longevity.
Main topics:
- Fuel cell operating principles and the importance of clean oxygen (O₂) supply.
- Contaminant types removed: particulates, liquids, vapors, gases, and aerosols.
- Solberg’s proprietary media: Activated Carbon Granulate, Carbon-Impregnated Nonwoven, and high-efficiency HEPA/ULPA particulate filters.
- Complete filter assemblies proven in real-world applications (Hyster forklifts, marine, and industrial systems).
- ISO 11155-2 adsorption and ISO 11155-1 particulate test results demonstrating superior capacity and efficiency.
Solberg expressed readiness to support Vietnamese and ASEAN partners with customized filtration solutions as the fuel cell market expands in the region.
Conclusion The Vietnam-America Hydrogen Workshop 2026 successfully connected global technology leaders with Vietnam’s growing hydrogen ecosystem. VAHC will continue to facilitate follow-up actions to convert the ideas and partnerships discussed into concrete projects in 2026 and beyond.
For full slide decks or further collaboration inquiries, please contact VAHC directly. Our email: contact@vahc.com.vn
