Jeju’s Green Hydrogen Global Forum spotlights clean energy transition, global cooperation
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — The 2025 Green Hydrogen Global Forum kicked off on Wednesday, bringing together global energy leaders, experts and industry officials to explore pathways for a clean energy transition and carbon neutrality through green hydrogen and distributed energy solutions.
The annual forum, co-hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Green Hydrogen Glocal Leading Research Center, serves as a platform to share Jeju’s successful models of green hydrogen and distributed energy while seeking ways to accelerate carbon-neutral initiatives for global corporations.
The forum, which continues through Friday, invited 55 institutions and associations, 42 companies and nine universities across China, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Austria, India, Thailand, Namibia and Japan, to take part in sessions and exhibitions. More than 60 local and international experts in the energy sector are participating in discussions on carbon neutrality over the three days of the event.
During the opening ceremony on Thursday at Jeju International Convention Center in Seogwipo, Jeju Gov. Oh Young-hun presented the island’s vision for carbon neutrality and its future strategies, highlighting the island province’s achievements in building Korea’s first green hydrogen industry ecosystem.
He said,
Jeju now stands at the forefront of Korea’s energy transition.
“In Jeju, surplus electricity is stored as hydrogen and utilized when needed and this approach lies at the heart of future energy systems,”
The governor laid out four main strategies to lead the country’s carbon-neutral initiative, pledging to expand and stabilize renewable energy production, such as solar and wind energy, while strengthening grid flexibility resources.
He said,
We will efficiently manage the power grid based on artificial intelligence (AI), and leverage battery energy storage systems and vehicle-to-grid electric vehicles to reliably store surplus electricity,
Oh also vowed to bring innovation to policies and the market to accelerate Jeju’s energy transition, citing the island’s pilot programs for real-time trading to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness in power supply.
Jeju Gov. Oh Young-hun, third from left, speaks during the global round table at the 2025 Green Hydrogen Global Forum at Jeju International Convention Center on Jeju Island, Thursday. Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — The 2025 Green Hydrogen Global Forum kicked off on Wednesday, bringing together global energy leaders, experts and industry officials to explore pathways for a clean energy transition and carbon neutrality through green hydrogen and distributed energy solutions.
The annual forum, co-hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Green Hydrogen Glocal Leading Research Center, serves as a platform to share Jeju’s successful models of green hydrogen and distributed energy while seeking ways to accelerate carbon-neutral initiatives for global corporations.
The forum, which continues through Friday, invited 55 institutions and associations, 42 companies and nine universities across China, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Austria, India, Thailand, Namibia and Japan, to take part in sessions and exhibitions. More than 60 local and international experts in the energy sector are participating in discussions on carbon neutrality over the three days of the event.
During the opening ceremony on Thursday at Jeju International Convention Center in Seogwipo, Jeju Gov. Oh Young-hun presented the island’s vision for carbon neutrality and its future strategies, highlighting the island province’s achievements in building Korea’s first green hydrogen industry ecosystem.
He said,
Jeju now stands at the forefront of Korea’s energy transition.
“In Jeju, surplus electricity is stored as hydrogen and utilized when needed and this approach lies at the heart of future energy systems,”
The governor laid out four main strategies to lead the country’s carbon-neutral initiative, pledging to expand and stabilize renewable energy production, such as solar and wind energy, while strengthening grid flexibility resources.
“We will efficiently manage the power grid based on artificial intelligence (AI), and leverage battery energy storage systems and vehicle-to-grid electric vehicles to reliably store surplus electricity,” he said.
Participants visit exhibition booths during the 2025 Green Hydrogen Global Forum at Jeju International Convention Center on Jeju Island, Thursday. Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Oh also vowed to bring innovation to policies and the market to accelerate Jeju’s energy transition, citing the island’s pilot programs for real-time trading to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness in power supply.
He said,
We’ll build a carbon-neutral demonstration project on Gapa Island (located 2 kilometers south of Jeju Island) and make it a leading case for net-zero success,
“We also plan to scale up products and services, such as RE100-certified eggs and RE100-certified milk, and develop a dedicated RE100 industrial park.”
Mary Burce Warlick, International Energy Agency deputy executive director, emphasized the importance of realizing visions for green hydrogen development, especially as the sector faces mounting uncertainties.
She said via video message,
While the growth of hydrogen has recently come under pressure due to economic headwinds and policy uncertainty, we still see strong signs that development is moving ahead globally,
“I believe that Jeju’s vision can help accelerate Korea’s clean energy progress and may also inspire broader efforts on a global scale towards a secure, reliable, clean and affordable energy future.”
The opening ceremony also featured keynote speeches from Marcoen Stoop, Norwegian fuel cell company Nel’s business development director for Asia, and professor Cheng Fangyi, dean of the College of Chemistry at China’s Nankai University.
The two highlighted the latest hydrogen technology trends and the importance of international cooperation, outlining pathways for advancing the hydrogen economy through global partnerships.
About 14 sessions were scheduled during the three-day event to discuss major trends and policy directions in green hydrogen and distributed energy, including a global roundtable with overseas policymakers and academia to explore global clean energy policy and Jeju’s international collaboration.
During the global forum, Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat shared Thailand’s efforts in energy transition, noting the difficulties it faces in the process.
He said,
Our government is implementing various policies, including drafting the Climate Change Act, which introduces a balanced package for developing carbon pricing concerns,
“There’s difficulty of transitioning away from fossil fuels because (the cost of) renewable energy technology is higher than that of fossil fuels … The projects to achieve national energy system goals require massive investments from both the government and the private sector, especially in renewable energy infrastructure and its supporting ecosystem. Strong leadership and incentives are needed within the system to drive emission reductions.”
Along with the regular sessions, the forum includes special sessions, such as exhibitions showcasing the latest in hydrogen and renewable energy solutions.
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Jeju’s Green Hydrogen Global Forum spotlights clean energy transition, global cooperation, source
