The Organizing Committee of the World Hydrogen Expo 2025 (WHE 2025) has officially announced the 10 finalists for the highly anticipated H2 Innovation Award, a prestigious annual recognition given to companies that are driving technological advancement across the global hydrogen sector. The announcement, made on the 13th, highlights a diverse lineup of innovators in hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and transportation, and hydrogen utilization ahead of the exhibition taking place from December 4–7, 2025, at KINTEX in Goyang City, South Korea.
Jointly led by Nam Hoon Kang, Chairman of the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, and Jae-Hong Kim, Chairman of the Korea Hydrogen Alliance, the H2 Innovation Award has become one of the most influential programs in Asia’s clean energy landscape. Hosted by the WHE Organizing Committee and co-organized by the Korea Energy Agency and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Planning and Evaluation (KEIT), the award is designed to identify breakthrough technologies, support industry growth, and strengthen global competitiveness. It integrates presentations, exhibitions, and networking into a unified platform for large corporations, SMEs, and startups across the hydrogen value chain.
After receiving submissions from September through the end of October, the judging panel—comprising experts from government agencies, investment organizations, the automotive sector, and hydrogen industry bodies—evaluated candidates based on four criteria: innovation, technological maturity, market potential, and growth prospects. Ten companies have been selected as finalists, categorized as follows:
Hydrogen Production Category
• APGREEN – Recognized for its decentralized low-power hydrogen production system, designed to enable flexible, distributed hydrogen generation.
• Wintech Energy – Selected for its microwave plasma technology, capable of producing clean hydrogen along with high-purity carbon materials.
• GPhilos – Nominated for developing a 100kW-class water electrolysis system offering improved efficiency for clean hydrogen generation.
• AES Tech – Highlighted for its anhydrous liquid ammonia electrolysis hydrogen extraction system, providing an alternative pathway for hydrogen production without the need for high-temperature processes.
Hydrogen Storage and Transportation Category
• OPmobility – Finalist for its advanced high-pressure hydrogen vessel equipped with built-in state and safety monitoring capabilities, enabling safer and more reliable storage.
• ENERGYN – Recognized for its high-pressure bellows-type hydrogen compressor, strengthening compression performance critical for refueling stations and industrial applications.
• SLENO – Selected for its hydrogen safety monitoring system, designed to detect leaks and improve safety across storage, pipeline, and fueling infrastructure.
Hydrogen Utilization Category
• KMCP – Finalist for the EL-KUS fuel cell propulsion boat, a clean mobility solution for the maritime sector.
• BTE – Recognized for its GEN100 hydrogen fuel cell generator, offering portable and efficient power generation for various applications.
• VINSSEN – Selected for its 100kW marine hydrogen fuel cell system, supporting low-emission ship propulsion and marine energy applications.
These finalists will proceed to the final presentation round, during which judges will determine the winners of the Grand Prize, Best Excellence Awards—one for each category—and the Excellence Awards, totaling seven recognitions. The official awards ceremony will take place during the opening of WHE 2025 on December 4.
Winning companies will receive significant benefits and visibility. The Grand Prize winner will receive a KRW 10 million cash award and a trophy. Winners of the Best Excellence Award in each category will receive KRW 5 million and a trophy, while the Excellence Award recipients will receive a certificate of merit along with a KRW 2 million discount on booth fees for WHE 2026. Additional benefits include strategic promotional support and enhanced exposure on-site and through event marketing platforms. The award has a strong legacy of recognizing major industry players, with past Grand Prize winners such as POSCO Mobility Solution (2021), ENERGYN (2022), MiCoPower (2023), and ILJIN Hysolus (2024).
Chairman Nam Hoon Kang emphasized the importance of this initiative for global energy transition, stating, “Hydrogen is a core energy source for achieving carbon neutrality and a key driver of future industrial growth. The H2 Innovation Award provides an international stage for companies to present new technologies, collaborate, and compete, ultimately expanding the ecosystem of hydrogen innovation.”
Regarded as the largest and most influential hydrogen industry event in Korea and the broader Asia-Pacific region, WHE 2025 will convene global leaders, technology innovators, policymakers, and investors for four days of exhibitions, conferences, and business exchanges at KINTEX 2. More information is available on the official WHE 2025 website.
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