YPC (France), Hydrogen Advisors (International) and VAHC Agree on Five Strategic Advisory Pillars for Hydrogen and CCUS Cooperation

April 17, 2026 | VAHC Secretariat

Ho Chi Minh City – A significant milestone in clean energy cooperation has been achieved as YPC (France), Hydrogen Advisors (France/International), and Vietnam’s ASEAN Hydrogen Club (VAHC) agreed on five strategic advisory pillars to accelerate the development of hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in Vietnam and across the ASEAN region.

The virtual meeting held on April 15, 2026, was coordinated by Hervé Lienhardt, with the participation of Raphaël Schoentgen – one of Europe’s leading hydrogen strategy experts – and Lê Ngọc Ánh Minh, Chairman of VAHC

Five Strategic Advisory Pillars

The parties agreed to implement five key areas of cooperation with a strong focus on practical execution and long-term strategic impact:

1. Advanced CCUS Training in Vietnam and ASEAN
Development of practical training programs for universities specializing in petroleum, environment, and industrial engineering, combining international experts with local lecturers to build a strong talent pipeline for carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

2. Hydrogen Strategy Advisory for National Energy Ecosystem Development
Support in developing hydrogen strategies, institutional frameworks, partner ecosystems, and financing approaches, leveraging experience from leading global energy organizations.

3. Policy and Regulatory Advisory for Hydrogen Development in ASEAN
Provision of international expertise to support hydrogen policy design, regulatory frameworks, and technical standardization, helping ASEAN countries align with global best practices.

4. Hydrogen Mobility Pilot Initiatives linked to APEC 2027
Development of clean mobility demonstration projects at international scale, leveraging potential co-financing mechanisms and positioning Vietnam as a regional hydrogen showcase hub.

5. ASEAN Hydrogen Ecosystem Development through VAHC
Strengthening regional collaboration, organizing technical forums, sharing international expertise, and leveraging APEC 2027 as a strategic platform to accelerate hydrogen ecosystem development across ASEAN.

Views from the Participants

Hervé Lienhardt stated that the cooperation creates “a unique synergy of strategic, technical, and regional capabilities,” and confirmed that the partners are ready to move immediately into implementation of the agreed initiatives.

Raphaël Schoentgen, Founder & CEO of Hydrogen Advisors and former Chairman of Hydrogen Europe, noted that Vietnam is at a “golden moment” to accelerate hydrogen development, and emphasized his commitment to supporting the country in achieving international standards and scaling regional hydrogen initiatives.

Lê Ngọc Ánh Minh highlighted that Vietnam already has strong project foundations, high-level partnerships, and increasing access to international expertise, and that collaboration with leading European advisors will help significantly accelerate practical deployment.

Next Steps

In the coming phase, the partners will focus on:

• Developing detailed CCUS training programs and expert rosters
• Engaging with national energy stakeholders on strategic advisory cooperation
• Identifying regional platforms for expert engagement and knowledge exchange
• Preparing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as the foundation for implementation

Significance for Vietnam and ASEAN

This cooperation reflects a broader shift in hydrogen development—from technology-centric approaches to an integrated ecosystem involving policy, finance, talent, and institutional collaboration.

As Vietnam advances toward its Net Zero 2050 target and expands participation in regional initiatives such as AZEC, direct engagement with leading European hydrogen experts is expected to:

• Accelerate hydrogen market development timelines
• Align regulatory frameworks with international standards
• Enhance access to global capital, technology, and expertise

FEATURED EXPERT PROFILES

Hervé Lienhardt – Founder & CEO of YPC

Hervé Lienhardt is a senior executive with over 34 years of international experience across Europe and Asia (China, Japan, India), specializing in water, waste management, energy, and industrial decarbonization.

He has held senior leadership roles at Veolia and SUEZ, including Managing Director of Veolia Carbon Clean, COO and Commercial Director in India, and member of the Chairman’s Office in Japan. At SUEZ, he served as COO Japan, CEO of the SCIP Sino-French Water joint venture in Shanghai, and Technical Director in Beijing and Paris.

He is currently Founder and CEO of Your Project Consult (YPC), a France-based strategic advisory firm supporting international projects in energy, water, and decarbonization.

He has led major multinational joint ventures, industrial restructuring programs, and circular economy deployments, including CO₂ capture initiatives in India and a €1.3 billion Japan joint venture involving 10 Japanese partners. He has also built industrial operations from scratch in China and led major business turnaround programs.

He has managed teams of more than 2,000 employees and is multilingual, working fluently in English, German, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. He was awarded the Silver Magnolia Award, an honorary citizenship recognition from the City of Shanghai.

Raphaël Schoentgen – Founder & CEO of Hydrogen Advisors

Raphaël Schoentgen is a leading European hydrogen and energy transition expert with over 25 years of international experience in the energy sector.

He is Founder & CEO of Hydrogen Advisors (since 2018) and Co-Founder & Partner of Hydrogen Capital Partners (2019–2023).

He holds an engineering degree from Mines de Paris, an MBA from Corps des Mines, and studied at Harvard Kennedy School.

He has held senior executive positions including President of GDF SUEZ China (5 years) and Chief Technology Officer and Executive Committee Member of ENGIE (3 years).

Earlier in his career, he served in senior public and European institutions, including Head of Regional Economic Development in Northern France (1996–2007), roles at the European Commission’s DG Competition, and Advisor to the French Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Industry.

He also played key leadership roles in Europe’s hydrogen ecosystem, serving as Chairman of Hydrogen Europe and Chairman of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) from 2015 to 2017.

With a rare combination of engineering, policy, and global energy leadership experience, he is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures shaping hydrogen strategy in Europe and internationally.