[Feature] WHE 2025 rises as a key platform for the global hydrogen value chain, spotlighting innovative companies set to lead the global hydrogen market

In 2024, the Earth’s average temperature rose by more than 1.5℃ compared with pre-industrial levels. That means the official significance of the threshold defined by the international community through the Paris Climate Agreement has already faded.

Across the world, cascading climate extremes—heat waves and torrential rain each season, droughts, and more—have joined sea-level rise and ecosystem collapse, and the pace continues to accelerate beyond what humans can easily measure.

These rapid changes pose a direct threat to human survival. As a result, policy leaders and technology experts worldwide now share a growing consensus that humanity must move beyond simply cutting greenhouse gases and urgently realize “carbon neutrality.”

The most viable measure toward carbon neutrality is “RE100 (Renewable Energy 100),” which calls for a complete transition to clean energy. Its core lies in converting all electricity used across industry to renewable energy, and among the truly carbon-free fuels, hydrogen draws the most excellent attention.

Since taking office, the Jae-myung Lee administration has moved quickly to address the climate crisis, and the newly established Ministry of Climate, Environment, and Energy also prioritizes hydrogen-economy planning.

A representative example came recently when the ministry, together with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and North Chungcheong Province, revised safety standards to allow hydrogen extraction via ammonia cracking. Observers interpret the move as the result of roughly two years of demonstrations and institutional improvements carried out through cooperation among the government, the private sector, and local governments.

Demonstrations in the Chungbuk Special Zone for the Green Hydrogen Industry (Chungbuk Special Zone for the Green Hydrogen Industry) verified the safety and reliability of technology that produces clean hydrogen (green hydrogen) with near-zero carbon dioxide emissions by reforming ammonia. Based on those results, authorities revised the safety-code framework and laid the groundwork for the hydrogen economy.

At the opening ceremony of the World Hydrogen Expo 2025 (WHE 2025) on Thursday, the 4th, Minister Kim also highlighted hydrogen as an alternative that can address the efficiency and intermittency challenges of other renewable energy sources. He said, “In this era of climate crisis, we will spare no support so that Korea can help build and spread the hydrogen ecosystem across transportation, storage, and utilization.”

With Minister Kim’s declaration of a hydrogen-economy vision, WHE 2025 opened at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Ilsan and concluded successfully on Sunday, the 7th, after welcoming roughly 25,000 visitors over four days.

Held under the slogan “Hydrogen Pioneers: Innovate, Unite, and Accelerate,” this year’s event came together through the integration of Korea’s largest hydrogen industry exhibition, “H2 MEET,” with a global conference. As a result, WHE 2025 connected its exhibition, international conference, and global networking programs into a single, interlocking platform.

At the conference and networking sessions, energy policy leaders, technology experts, and industry figures gathered to discuss directions for clean-hydrogen policy, international standardization strategies, and market outlooks.

An international exhibition spanning 22,000㎡ also drew strong participation from companies across the hydrogen value chain. A total of 52 companies in hydrogen production, 68 in storage and transport, and 64 in utilization, along with 43 institutions and organizations, showcased their technologies and products.

In Korea, Hyundai Motor Group—one of the leaders of the global hydrogen economy—presented its groupwide capabilities and clean-hydrogen roadmap. Other major companies also participated, including HD Hyundai Infracore (next-generation engines for hydrogen mobility and plants) and Kolon Industries (the Ecomate humidity-control device and groupwide hydrogen-industry solutions).

At the same time, overseas companies such as 3M, Emerson, Linde, Henkel Loctite, TÜV SÜD, and Air Liquide ran large booths, underscoring WHE 2025’s influence and standing within the global hydrogen industry.

One of the key highlights this year also came from emerging challengers that presented originality, potential, and even tangible marketability comparable to that of major corporations. If established giants helped launch the market, the small and medium-sized enterprises and startups at WHE 2025 offered a sense of confidence and anticipation about the market’s acceleration and expansion.

Against this backdrop, AVING News met with promising companies at WHE 2025—now newly reinforced as a core platform for the global hydrogen value chain—aiming to accelerate the transition to a hydrogen economy.

ENERICH targets global growth in climate tech with Ti-PTL that boosts hydrogen-production efficiency

In hydrogen production, ENERICH Co., Ltd. (CEO Man Ho Park) stood out for developing core materials for green-hydrogen production systems.

ENERICH is a Korean company with expertise in advanced metal-based materials and catalyst development. It has brought various metal-porous materials for fuel cells, industrial filters, and functional porous products to market. In March, it also won selection for a “climate-tech startup fostering program,” reflecting recognition of its technical capabilities.

ENERICH now develops and produces titanium porous transport layers (Titanium Porous Transport Layer, Ti-PTL), a key component applied to hydrogen production systems such as PEMEC (polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis cells). It showcased related product lines at the exhibition.

Ti-PTL is a core component of hydrogen production systems, supporting multiple functions—water absorption, electrolysis, gas release, and maximizing contact area with catalysts—to improve hydrogen production efficiency.

PEMEC uses a mechanism that splits water supplied to catalysts with electricity, without a separate electrolyte, and typically operates at a high current density of 1A or more per square centimeter. That makes a porous material essential: it needs strong resistance to electrochemical corrosion while also delivering large volumes of water evenly through high porosity.

To meet those requirements, ENERICH uses tape casting to form corrosion-resistant titanium powder into sheet-like plates, then applies vacuum sintering at temperatures above 1,000℃ to produce thin titanium porous structures with porosity above 40%.

It also secures durability improvements by removing oxide layers through plasma treatment, then applying platinum (Pt) coating to the porous surface. With Ti-PTL products refined through a combination of multiple patented technologies (including registered and filed patents) and advanced processes, ENERICH plans to move into full commercialization and enter the global market beginning in the first half of next year.

An ENERICH official said, “Since the first half of this year, major Korean corporations in hydrogen production have begun demonstrations and tests of our Ti-PTL, and we also delivered products to SMEs and mid-sized companies that verified outstanding performance.” The official added, “With tests also underway in Europe and North America, export launches could begin next year depending on results.”

The official said, “Metal porous material technology strengthens productivity for clean hydrogen and will serve as a key to shifting energy systems worldwide toward eco-friendly structures,” adding that “ENERICH will continue advancing these technologies and grow into a global company in climate-tech core materials.”

AES Tech leads high-efficiency, low-carbon hydrogen extraction with ammoNOVA, an anhydrous ammonia electrolysis solution

AES Tech (CEO Jaehong Chun) drew attention from global visitors at WHE 2025 by introducing foundational technology and related equipment that enable even more eco-friendly and efficient hydrogen production (extraction).

AES Tech positions itself as a company that holds green-hydrogen production technology capable of responding in real time to fluctuations in hydrogen demand, and it targets hydrogen infrastructure markets worldwide with its anhydrous ammonia electrolysis system, ammoNOVA.

The company said it also provides technologies applicable across diverse fields—such as hydrogen refueling stations, distributed power, and industrial processes—by actively leveraging the scalability of advanced catalysts, membranes, and intelligent control technologies.

At the exhibition, AES Tech presented ammoNOVA as its core solution and a key engine for expansion. The system produces high-purity hydrogen by electrolyzing liquefied ammonia. Unlike conventional thermochemical cracking, which requires 700–900℃ temperatures, high pressure, and complex catalytic reactions, the company said ammoNOVA sharply reduces concerns about process efficiency and greenhouse-gas emissions.

In conventional thermochemical cracking, hydrogen extraction inevitably emits carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. By contrast, ammoNOVA operates through a low-temperature mechanism that acts directly on liquefied ammonia. AES Tech said it achieves stable operation and high conversion efficiency through integrated membrane–catalyst–stack design and intelligent control, while also resolving corrosion and impurity issues by using liquefied ammonia in an anhydrous state.

The company said these features simplify the process and cut energy consumption, delivering stronger economics and reliability than existing technologies. It also highlighted another differentiator: ammoNOVA can follow load changes under renewable-energy-linked operating conditions, ensuring steady hydrogen output even in volatile power environments, giving the hydrogen supply chain greater flexibility.

An AES Tech official said, “ammoNOVA earns recognition as a technology that broadly meets the needs of hydrogen infrastructure markets worldwide—efficiency, operational stability, and minimized environmental impact.” The official added, “It can flexibly expand into hydrogen refueling stations, advanced hydrogen-based industrial processes, H2 Ready boiler and gas-turbine co-firing power generation, and more. In particular, it can serve as a practical alternative in environments that require a stable power supply, such as data centers and microgrids.”

The official said, “We aim for commercialization and standardization of ammoNOVA, and we will support modular design and operational optimization tailored to infrastructure conditions in each country while expanding global partnerships. WHE, the world’s largest and most authoritative hydrogen industry platform, will serve as an important first step for that roadmap.”

Kolon Spaceworks innovates hydrogen storage safety and efficiency with advanced composite Towpreg

Kolon Spaceworks also made its presence felt at WHE by presenting advanced composite materials technology and hydrogen storage applications.

Kolon Spaceworks is an affiliate of the Kolon Group, specializing in technology-driven advanced materials. It launched in July last year as part of a strategy to unify composite materials businesses across aerospace, hydrogen tanks, and ballistic materials.

The company offers technology application solutions spanning aircraft structures, defense, and space-launch composite components, vehicle hydrogen storage vessels, and lightweight materials for batteries. It also reportedly maintains a strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor and Kia and jointly develops technologies to expand eco-friendly mobility, including hydrogen storage vessels and battery covers.

At WHE 2025, Kolon Spaceworks exhibited its proprietary Towpreg, a thermoset composite semi-finished product that combines high-strength carbon fiber with epoxy resin. The company presented it as an advanced material that maintains uniform quality even in complex shapes while offering design flexibility and manufacturability.

Towpreg is used to build structures suitable for high-load (high-pressure) and high-temperature environments. The company said it earns recognition as a core technology that can further improve the overall stiffness and durability of structures when combined with precise lay-up processes, and it also offers strong compatibility with dry winding processes, supporting high uniformity in mass production.

Kolon Spaceworks also introduced hydrogen storage vessel products that use the new material as an intermediate and employ an ultra-heat-resistant compound material (PA6) from Kolon ENP for the liner. The company said these vessels store high-pressure gas safely up to 700 bar and maximize production efficiency through a range of molding methods tailored to customer needs.

In particular, it said the 54-liter model obtained UN ECE R134 certification, verifying key specifications such as crash safety, explosion prevention, and thermal stability. It also said the vessel achieves a weight reduction of more than 50% compared to conventional metal tanks, improving driving efficiency for hydrogen-electric mobility.

Kolon aims to secure both cost competitiveness and quality stability by internalizing the value chain from material development to component forming and module production. It plans to expand its storage solutions beyond hydrogen vehicles into ships, aviation, defense, and other high-pressure storage systems.

A Kolon Spaceworks official said, “At this exhibition, stakeholders and experts from hydrogen mobility and advanced materials showed strong interest in our hydrogen storage solutions that pursue both lightweight and safety.” The official added, “We will accelerate global expansion by strengthening global certifications and mass-production systems, reinforcing cooperation with major companies at home and abroad, and positioning ourselves as a leading composite materials company in next-generation energy storage technologies.”

ENERGYN supports hydrogen infrastructure expansion and speeds up storage and transport with a new bellows compressor

ENERGYN Co., Ltd. (CEOs Jinsuk Jang and Ihn Kee Hwang), which has demonstrated strength in industrial equipment manufacturing for handling high-pressure gases since its founding in 2011, also participated in WHE 2025.

ENERGYN is a Korean company that has developed extreme-process equipment for more than a decade. It produces HIP (Hot Isostatic Press) systems that withstand pressures up to 200 MPa and ultra-high temperatures of 1,500℃, as well as CIP (Cold Isostatic Press) systems rated up to 6,000 bar, based on proprietary technologies.

This high-pressure equipment lineup has built a customer base across semiconductors, displays, automotive, nuclear power, aerospace, and more. Recently, it has also accelerated diversification toward next-generation energy markets by introducing hydrogen refueling infrastructure modules, hydrogen storage pressure vessels, solid-state battery manufacturing equipment, and heat exchangers for MLCC manufacturing.

ENERGYN highlighted its high-pressure bellows hydrogen compressor as a key component of its future strategy. The compressor uses a compression mechanism based on a corrugated metal tube that undergoes elastic deformation.

Conventional piston compressors require a crank mechanism for reciprocating motion and typically require lubricant to reduce friction between metal components during operation. By contrast, ENERGYN’s bellows compressor operates through the contraction and expansion of corrugations driven by internal pressure changes.

In other words, the bellows itself applies pressure through deformation inside a fixed housing, creating minimal metal-to-metal contact and enabling operation without lubricant. That helps maintain consistent hydrogen purity while removing concerns around contamination from lubricant leaks or overuse.

The company also said the simplified component structure reduces wear factors, lowers maintenance costs, and extends equipment lifespan.

It highlighted another point of differentiation: stable operation at 100 MPa-class pressure, as used in high-pressure refueling station systems. The company said the bellows compressor can also maximize hydrogen compression ratios, which could significantly improve efficiency across storage and transport processes.

An ENERGYN official said, “Industry stakeholders praised the bellows compressor as a next-generation technology that can shift the paradigm of hydrogen infrastructure and transfer processes. Global companies in particular showed strong interest in reduced maintenance costs and improved safety.” The official added, “This exhibition outcome will stand as a case where ENERGYN proved global competitiveness with localized technology.”

The official said, “We actively promote the technology as we aim to expand solutions that gradually improve efficiency across hydrogen storage and transport systems.” The official added, “Ultimately, we will also strengthen international certification and mass-production systems so we can apply the technology across ships, aviation, defense, and other industries.”

KMCP unveils EL-KUS, a hydrogen fuel cell–battery hybrid leisure boat, presenting a blueprint for eco-friendly marine mobility

KMCP Co., Ltd. (CEO Sung Ha Kim), which has built competitiveness in ship design and manufacturing, promoted its commercialization strategy for leading eco-friendly mobility platforms to the global hydrogen industry at WHE.

KMCP is a shipbuilding and machinery specialist founded in 2014 that provides one-stop solutions for manufacturing small- and mid-sized vessels, including yachts. The company said it earns recognition for hull manufacturing using fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) and lightweight metals, while also developing products that integrate next-generation technologies, such as autonomous navigation systems and electric propulsion platforms.

In line with its electrification and advanced-vessel strategy, KMCP also invests in developing eco-friendly vessels based on hydrogen fuel cells. It previously unveiled Korea’s first hydrogen-powered leisure boat. It drew interest from both industry and the public, featuring high-performance vessels that combine liquid hydrogen fuel systems and electric propulsion technology.

At WHE 2025, KMCP introduced EL-KUS, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered boat that advanced to the finals of the “H2 Innovation Award,” serving as a next-generation vessel that symbolizes its vision.

Inside EL-KUS, KMCP installed a fuel cell–battery hybrid system integrating the fuel cell system from Hyundai Motor’s new NEXO hydrogen-electric vehicle model with a 700 bar hydrogen storage vessel. With this high-efficiency electric propulsion system and a lightweight FRP hull, the company said it dramatically reduces carbon emissions compared with internal-combustion-engine boats, while also minimizing water resistance through a hydrofoil design.

For operational technology, EL-KUS provides autonomous navigation functions integrated with a CAN-based control system. The system collects and analyzes real-time data to control routes and significantly reduce user intervention. It also enhances safety and convenience through a battery management system (BMS) and remote monitoring functions.

Performance metrics also stood out. EL-KUS combines a 95 kW fuel cell with a 100 kW-class battery (45 kWh) to deliver total propulsion power of 180 kW. On that basis, it can travel up to 150 km at 20 knots (about 45 km/h). KMCP also said it can implement different sailing performance profiles for various use cases by flexibly reconfiguring modular fuel cell and battery setups.

KMCP aims to accelerate domestic and overseas certifications and global market entry for EL-KUS. It wants to secure a leading position in next-generation eco-friendly vessel solutions, starting with leisure boats.

A KMCP official said, “We plan to diversify development of hybrid models that fuse hydrogen fuel cells and electric propulsion, centered on EL-KUS.” The official added, “Through this, we aim to build a total solution that spans high-value-added marine leisure design engineering, manufacturing, cultural content, and services, and position ourselves as a global marine leisure company.”

Meanwhile, World Hydrogen Expo 2025 is a world-class hydrogen industry event that brings together hydrogen companies worldwide to showcase the latest technologies and trends and create opportunities for global cooperation. Starting this year, the “International Hydrogen Conference” and the hydrogen industry exhibition “H2 MEET” will be integrated into a single event that covers both exhibition and conference programs. The event spans the whole value chain—from hydrogen production to storage, transport, and utilization—while sharing innovative technologies and market strategies and strengthening its role as a hub for global collaboration.