---
title: National Hydrogen Economy
type: technology
url: "https://www.envisioning.com/research/grid/south-korea__hydrogen-economy-strategy"
hub: grid
summary: "South Korea operates the world's most ambitious hydrogen strategy, with Hyundai NEXO fuel cell vehicles in production, plans for 40,000 hydrogen buses, and a target of 15 GW hydrogen capacity by 2040."
---

# National Hydrogen Economy

South Korea operates the world's most ambitious hydrogen strategy, with Hyundai NEXO fuel cell vehicles in production, plans for 40,000 hydrogen buses, and a target of 15 GW hydrogen capacity by 2040.
- Technology Readiness Level: 7/9
- Impact: 3/5
- Investment: 4/5
South Korea's Hydrogen Economy Roadmap, launched in 2019, targets 6.2 million fuel cell vehicles, 1,200 hydrogen refueling stations, and 15 GW of fuel cell power generation by 2040. The country already has the most hydrogen fuel cell buses in operation globally. Hyundai's NEXO SUV is the world's best-selling hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, and Hyundai operates the world's only mass-production fuel cell system factory in Guangzhou.

Korea's hydrogen bet is strategic: the country imports 94% of its energy and has limited renewable energy potential (small land area, high population density). Hydrogen — potentially imported as ammonia from Australia or the Middle East — offers a path to energy security that solar and wind alone cannot provide. The government has backed this with tax incentives, mandated hydrogen blending in gas networks, and created special hydrogen economic zones in Ulsan and Incheon.

Hyundai Motor Group is the anchor of the hydrogen ecosystem, developing everything from passenger vehicles to hydrogen-powered trucks, ships, and urban air mobility vehicles. The $6.3B AI/robotics/hydrogen hub announced in 2025 underscores how central hydrogen is to Hyundai's long-term strategy alongside robotics and autonomous driving.

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Source: Envisioning — Technology Research Institute (https://www.envisioning.com/research/grid/south-korea__hydrogen-economy-strategy)