A Review of Hydrogen Strategies in South, Southeast, and Southwest Asia: National Outlooks and Collaboration Opportunities for Canada

This review examines hydrogen (H2) production, storage, transportation, and utilization in South Asian (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asian (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia), and Southwest Asian (Azerbaijan) countries that have officially released national H2 roadmaps. Production pathways across fossil, renewable, and nuclear sources are examined alongside national strategies and H2 roadmaps to assess capacities, policies, deployment plans, and opportunities for international collaboration. These strategies are characterized by various pathways, determined by national conditions, resource availability, and policy frameworks. India’s national mission emphasizes the expansion of green H2 through renewable-powered electrolysis, aiming to replace fossil-based production while advancing applications in refining, fertilizers, and heavy industry. Sri Lanka, utilizing its offshore wind and solar potential, has outlined a phased roadmap to build domestic capacity and progress toward export opportunities, particularly in ammonia and methanol. Indonesia is transitioning from fossil-based H2 with carbon capture toward broader renewable integration, positioning itself as a potential regional hub. Malaysia’s strategy focuses on biomass resources, solar-powered electrolysis, and developing industrial clusters in Sarawak using an export-oriented approach. In Singapore, limited domestic resources have driven the adoption of a multisource pathway that depends on imported blue and green hydrogen, ammonia bunkering, and H2-ready power plants to improve energy resilience. Azerbaijan is emerging as a potential H2 corridor between Asia and Europe, utilizing its renewable potential, fossil resources, and strategic geopolitical position, although infrastructure and storage constraints remain. Gaps in infrastructure, standards, regulations, technologies, and value chains are assessed; emerging options across the H2 supply chain are reviewed; and countries’ strengths, weaknesses, and readiness gaps are identified. Also, opportunities for international collaboration are emphasized, particularly with Canada, through technology transfer in electrolysis, application of carbon management expertise, harmonization of safety standards, and pilot projects in heavy transport and industrial decarbonization.