Vietnam – Taiwan Hydrogen Cooperation Online Seminar: Connecting Technology, Realizing the Green Hydrogen Strategy

Vietnam – Taiwan Hydrogen Cooperation Online Seminar: Connecting Technology, Realizing the Green Hydrogen Strategy

Annie Nguyễn, Ban Thư ký | 07/08/2026

On August 27, 2026, the Vietnam ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC), in coordination with the Taiwan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Partnership (THFCP) and the Vietnam Construction Network (VPC), will organize an Online Seminar on Vietnam – Taiwan Hydrogen Cooperation under the theme "Connecting Technology – Realizing the Green Hydrogen Strategy." The event will take place from 10:00 AM (Vietnam time) / 11:00 AM (Taiwan time) on the Zoom/Teams platform, lasting 60-90 minutes, with English as the working language.

The seminar is being held in the context of positive developments in energy cooperation between the two sides. VAHC and THFCP officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 14, 2025, marking an important milestone in promoting cooperation in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies between the two parties.

Context and Foundation for Cooperation
The event is built upon a solid cooperation foundation with many favorable factors:

• Taiwanese Investment in Vietnam: Taiwan is one of the largest investors in Vietnam, particularly in high-tech sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, and renewable energy. The global supply chain shift has prompted many Taiwanese corporations to expand their operations in Vietnam, creating a solid foundation for hydrogen technology cooperation.

• Semiconductor Research Human Resources: Taiwan possesses a globally competitive semiconductor industry with a highly qualified workforce, playing an important role in developing technologies related to hydrogen and clean energy.

• Hydrogen Development in Taiwan: Taiwan has a rapidly growing hydrogen industry. U Hydrogen Technologies is a pioneer with advanced PEM/AEM water electrolysis technology, holding more than 14 patents and CE, FCC, and PSE certifications. Taiwan is also building a low-carbon hydrogen certification framework and deploying its first hydrogen refueling stations in Kaohsiung.

• Vietnam's National Hydrogen Strategy: In April 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 165/QĐ-TTg approving the Hydrogen Energy Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, demonstrating the Government's strong commitment to green and sustainable energy development.

• Hydrogen in the National Technology List: In August 2026, the hydrogen production and supply chain was officially added to Vietnam's National Technology List, creating favorable conditions for priority development and attracting domestic and foreign investment.

• Carbon Market Development: Vietnam's carbon market is in a pilot phase, with priority given to hydrogen projects for carbon credit sales, estimated at about 10-15% of total credits, creating economic incentives for green hydrogen projects.

Seminar Objectives
The seminar aims at three main objectives:

• Provide an overview of Taiwan's hydrogen ecosystem and the technological capabilities of U Hydrogen Technologies.

• Connect stakeholders in the hydrogen value chain between Vietnam and Taiwan.

• Discuss cooperation opportunities in project development, distribution, and hydrogen equipment manufacturing in Vietnam.

Proposed Program

Part I – Opening Session (15 minutes):

• Opening remarks by Mr. Le Ngoc Anh Minh, Chairman of VAHC, on the cooperation context and seminar objectives.

• Welcome speech by a representative of THFCP on strategic directions for hydrogen cooperation.

• Welcome speech by Mr. Steven Lu, Chairman of VPC, on the role of business connectivity.

Part II – Presentations (25 minutes):

• Overview of Taiwan's hydrogen ecosystem: policies, technologies, typical projects, and international cooperation orientation (Representative of THFCP).

• Introduction to U Hydrogen Technologies: PEM/AEM technology, products, supply capacity, and opportunities for distribution and manufacturing cooperation in Vietnam (Dr. Leo Tsai, Chairman of U Hydrogen Technologies).

Part III – Discussion and Closing (20 minutes):

• Q&A and discussion on opportunities, challenges, technical issues, markets, and policies (VAHC: Mr. Le Ngoc Anh Minh, Dr. Cao Thuy Oanh; THFCP; VPC: Mr. Steven Lu; KPT Chemical Group: Mr. John Tay, General Director; Indefol: Mr. Manuel Baumgartner, Business Director; Neuman & Esser: Dr. Hao Ngo, KIMM: Dr. Bui Viet Tuan Anh, and all attendees).

• Summary of key points and next steps (VAHC: Dr. Cao Thuy Oanh & VPC: Mr. Steven Lu).

Vision and Prospects
The seminar is part of VAHC's strategy to expand international cooperation, following this organization becoming an official member of the Global Hydrogen Industry Association Alliance (GHIAA) and establishing strategic cooperative relationships with THFCP, the Korea Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry Association (KHFCIA), the Canadian Hydrogen Association, Japan, Scotland, and the Australian Hydrogen Council. This is expected to open up opportunities to promote technology cooperation, attract investment, and realize the goal of producing 100,000-500,000 tons of green hydrogen per year in Vietnam by 2030.

Regiser to join the Webinar: https://forms.gle/y48rpz28mBnpNg6t8

Reference 1 - Hydrogen: An Essential Material in Semiconductor Manufacturing

In key wafer fabrication processes such as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and plasma etching, hydrogen plays an irreplaceable role. It is primarily used for:

• Reduction reactions to form high-purity films.

• Process cleaning to remove contaminants.

• Maintaining specific reducing atmospheres inside reaction chambers.

The critical requirement is ultra-high purity (typically 9N – 99.9999999%) to prevent any contamination of the chips. Therefore, ensuring a stable and clean hydrogen supply is as vital as securing helium or other specialty gases for the industry.

Two Major Challenges Facing Taiwan's Semiconductor Sector

1. Geopolitical Supply Chain Risks

• The Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) has publicly warned that conflicts in the Middle East have already disrupted supplies of hydrogen and helium.

• The root cause: Taiwan relies on imported natural gas (the primary feedstock for hydrogen via Steam Methane Reforming – SMR) for over 95% of its energy needs. Any geopolitical turmoil or shipping blockade could instantly threaten chip production lines.

2. Structural Energy Vulnerability

• Over 95% of Taiwan's energy is imported.

• Natural gas now accounts for nearly 50% of the island's power generation mix.

• This creates a "dual-cutoff" nightmare: a shortage of natural gas would mean both a lack of hydrogen (for chipmaking) and a lack of electricity (to run the entire fab) – a systemic risk that is hard to overstate.

Industry Response Strategies: From Stockpiling to Green Transition

Short-Term Measures

• Strategic Reserves – TSIA has formally urged the government to establish national stockpiles of helium, LNG, and other critical gases, while diversifying import sources to reduce reliance on any single region.

Medium-to-Long-Term Direction: Low-Carbon Hydrogen Development

• Electronic-grade Low-Carbon Hydrogen:
  Formosa Plastics Group (via its chemical division) has announced it will produce 5N5 (99.9995%) electronic-grade low-carbon hydrogen by 2027, with a carbon footprint of only 0.52 kg CO₂e/kgH₂ – roughly 1/20th of conventional SMR hydrogen. This hydrogen is targeted at major clients like TSMC to help them meet Scope 3 emission reduction targets demanded by global customers such as Apple and Intel.

• Green Hydrogen Pilot Projects:
  The Miaoli County government has launched a hydrogen demonstration zone, using solar power to produce hydrogen via water electrolysis. This initiative is part of the broader "Taoyuan–Hsinchu–Miaoli Greater Silicon Valley Plan", aiming to integrate the semiconductor ecosystem with local renewable energy.

Building a Comprehensive Hydrogen Infrastructure

• Integrated Production & Refueling Stations:
  Taiwan's first "green hydrogen production + smart refueling" station went online in 2025, capable of supplying hydrogen with 99.999% purity. It is claimed to meet up to 80% of the hydrogen demand for a typical 12-inch wafer fab.

• Fuel Cell Backup Power:
  The government has listed hydrogen as one of its 12 key strategic industries and is providing subsidies for fuel cell power systems, with priority deployment for large electricity consumers like semiconductor fabs – serving both as emergency backup and peak-load reduction.

Summary Overview

In short, for Taiwan, hydrogen is not just a specialty gas in a cleanroom – it is a geopolitical and economic nexus. Therefore, the sustainable development of the semiconductor industry will go hand-in-hand with energy transition policies and local hydrogen supply localization over the coming decade.

Reference 2 - Current Hydrogen Supply Chain Structure of Taiwan

1. International Element – Engineering and Project Deployment
   Taiwan began building its hydrogen projects with support from foreign turnkey solution providers (EPC – Engineering, Procurement, and Construction). A typical example is Taiwan's first integrated hydrogen production and refueling station, for which Suzhou Sincetrue Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (from China) served as the general EPC contractor. This highlights the lack of large-scale system integration capacity domestically in the early stages.

2. Localization Link – Collaboration and Certification
   To promote localization, domestic companies such as Bailian Qianxiang Energy Co., Ltd. play a key role in ensuring that imported equipment and systems—or transferred technologies—comply with local and international standards (CE, ASME, JIS, etc.). This collaboration also aims to jointly establish a hydrogen equipment manufacturing base right in Taiwan.

3. Key Equipment and Component Suppliers
   Several Taiwanese companies have already joined the supply chain for specific components:

   • Hydrogen Compressors: HOERBIGER TAIWAN LTD. supplies hydrogen gas compressor assemblies, a critical piece of equipment at refueling stations.

   • Electrolyzer Equipment: Domestic suppliers include Biotek Environmental Science Ltd. (which has an office in Taipei but manufacturing facilities in China). Additionally, some market analysis reports mention the presence of electrolyzer equipment companies in Taiwan, though specific names are not listed.

4. Driving Force from Major Conglomerates – Moving Toward Commercial-Scale Production
   The most significant step is Delta Electronics' (台達電) official announcement of its plan to mass-produce Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) and Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells (SOEC) in Taiwan by the end of 2026. This marks a transition from demonstration projects to commercial manufacturing. Delta has invested in building a factory in Taoyuan and a testing center in Tainan, focusing on localizing materials and equipment to build a competitive "national team" for hydrogen.

The Central Role of the Semiconductor Industry

The semiconductor industry—especially wafer fabs—is the primary driver of hydrogen demand and is actively shaping the development of Taiwan's hydrogen supply chain.

• The pioneering integrated hydrogen station project specifically targets supplying 80% of the hydrogen demand for 12-inch wafer fabs, aiming to reduce import dependence.

• The "Hydrogen as a Service" (HaaS) model has also been introduced, tailored specifically for semiconductor clients, including exhaust gas recovery services.

Summary Table: Taiwan's Hydrogen Equipment Supply Chain