The organizing committee of World Hydrogen Expo 2025 (WHE 2025)—co-chaired by Nam-hoon Kang, Chairman of the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, and Jae-hong Kim, Chairman of the Korea Hydrogen Alliance—announced the 10 final winners of the H2 Innovation Award on Thursday, December 4, coinciding with the opening of the exhibition.
Now in its fifth year, the H2 Innovation Award is a comprehensive technology showcase and awards program hosted and organized by the WHE Organizing Committee, and co-organized by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and the Korea Energy Agency. The program is held annually to discover innovative technologies across the hydrogen industry and to support their global expansion.
The selection process was conducted by a panel of industry experts, who evaluated candidates across four criteria—innovation, technical excellence, commercial viability, and growth potential. A total of 10 companies advanced to the finals across three categories: hydrogen production, storage & transport, and utilization.
As a result, the Grand Prize was awarded to BTE Co., Ltd. for its “hydrogen fuel cell generator (GEN100).” Category Best Awards went to APGREEN Co., Ltd. for “distributed low-power hydrogen production system (APG-Series)” in hydrogen production; ENERGYN Co., Ltd. for its “high-pressure bellows hydrogen compressor” in storage & transport; and VINSSEN Co., Ltd. for its “100 kW marine hydrogen fuel cell” in hydrogen utilization.
The H2 Innovation Award ceremony took place on the afternoon of December 4 at the WHE 2025 venue in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.
Nam-hoon Kang, Chairman of the WHE Organizing Committee, said, “Hydrogen is a key energy source for achieving carbon neutrality and a core driver of future industrial transformation. Technological innovation is essential to building a sustainable hydrogen industry ecosystem.” He added, “We hope the H2 Innovation Award will continue to play a meaningful role by discovering breakthrough technologies and helping industry stakeholders build and grow the hydrogen value chain together.”
* Grand Prize (Utilization): BTE Co., Ltd., “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generator (GEN100)”
BTE’s GEN100 is a 100 kW-class modular hydrogen fuel cell power generator. Judges praised its superior environmental performance compared with diesel or thermal power generation. Designed for mobile installation, it can serve as an independent power source for outdoor events and construction sites. A notable feature is its air-purification effect, which increases with longer operation times. The system also supports capacity customization and easy maintenance, making it a practical solution for transitioning industrial power systems.
A BTE official said, “It is highly meaningful that our fuel cell generator has been recognized as a practical solution for providing clean and stable energy in areas with insufficient or unstable power infrastructure. Building on this award, we will further expand real-world applications and contribute to a sustainable energy transition.”
* Best Award (Production): APGREEN Co., Ltd., “Distributed Low-Power Hydrogen Production System (APG-Series)”
APGREEN’s APG-Series is a catalyst partial oxidation (C-POX)-based, anhydrous hydrogen production and power-generation module. It directly produces hydrogen from city gas, LNG, or bio-LNG and converts it into electricity through an integrated PEM fuel cell. The system requires neither external hydrogen supply nor process water and features a containerized, plug-and-play design that enables installation and operation with only gas and power connections.
* Best Award (Storage & Transport): ENERGYN Co., Ltd., “High-Pressure Bellows Hydrogen Compressor”
ENERGYN’s high-pressure bellows hydrogen compressor employs a hybrid compression technology that combines the strengths of piston and diaphragm compressors. By applying the EPMS (bellows-type variable-piston-head-driven equilibrium-pressure syringe) method, it significantly reduces friction and achieves oil-free operation. With greatly enhanced durability and safety, the technology localizes a critical high-pressure compression solution essential for hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
* Best Award (Utilization): VINSSEN Co., Ltd., “100 kW Marine Hydrogen Fuel Cell.”
VINSSEN’s 100 kW marine hydrogen fuel cell directly converts hydrogen into electricity, offering a high-efficiency, zero-emission propulsion solution optimized for aquatic environments. Its modular and lightweight design allows application across various vessel types, while ensuring stable performance under marine vibration and saline conditions. Integrated with the company’s i-PMS (integrated power management system), it enables real-time control of energy flow between batteries and fuel cells, maximizing operational efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. The system has obtained class certifications from the Korean Register (KR) and Italy’s RINA, and VINSSEN is developing expanded models of 250 kW and 2 MW, targeting international class certification by 2026.
In addition to the Grand Prize and Best Awards, Excellence Awards were presented as follows. In hydrogen production: Wintech Energy Co., Ltd. (microwave plasma technology enabling clean hydrogen and carbon production without CO₂ emissions), G-Philos Co., Ltd. (100 kW water electrolysis system), and AES Tech Co., Ltd. (anhydrous liquid ammonia electrolysis hydrogen extraction system). In storage & transport: OPmobility (high-pressure vessels with integrated condition monitoring systems) and Sleno Co., Ltd. (hydrogen safety monitoring system). In utilization: KMCP Co., Ltd. (“EL-KUS” hydrogen fuel cell–powered boat).
Award-winning companies receive not only industry recognition but also various benefits. The Grand Prize winner receives KRW 10 million and a trophy; each Best Award winner (three companies) receives KRW 5 million and a trophy; and Excellence Award winners (six companies) receive certificates and a KRW 2 million discount on booth fees for the following year’s exhibition. Additional benefits include promotional placements inside and outside the exhibition hall, as well as exhibition advertising support.
Meanwhile, the World Hydrogen Expo 2025 is one of the world’s most significant hydrogen industry events, bringing together hydrogen companies from around the globe to showcase the latest technologies and trends and create opportunities for global collaboration. Starting this year, the International Hydrogen Conference and the H2 MEET exhibition have been integrated into a single event encompassing both conference and exhibition formats. Covering the whole value chain—from production to storage, transport, and utilization—the event is positioned to serve as a global hub for sharing innovative technologies and market strategies across the hydrogen ecosystem.