France roars past hydrogen -- 470 HP all-blue machine shocks the industry

When it comes to alternative fuel sources, renewable energy such as hydrogen, hydropower, wind power, solar power, and nuclear power tend to spring to mind. While energy sources such as hydrogen often are thought of in terms of alternative vehicle technology, it is important to remember that the world is dealing with an energy crisis and these resources will need to be drawn upon to power more than just automobiles. These two countries have recently agreed to invest in this unlikely fuel source in order to strive for a sustainable world.

Currently, the majority of the Earth's energy needs are met by burning fossil fuels. However, not only is the practice of mining and burning these fuels have massive environmental repercussions, the rate at which we are doing it is also unsustainable and we are set to run out of these fuels. As such, renewable resources are being increasingly, and critically, drawn upon in order to phase out our reliance on fossil fuels.

Currently, solar and wind energy are two of the largest growing renewable energy industries. Solar power has the advantage of being able to be scaled down for single-home use as well as scaled up for utility uses. Similarly, while wind power is primarily reserved for large-scale utility use, once set up, operating costs are relatively low making it a key player for large-scale power operations.

While these two renewable industries are rapidly growing, other renewable power sources are also being drawn upon. Hydropower currently maintains the position has providing the most amount of renewable energy output globally, however, it has the disadvantage of taking years to build and implement meaning that growth in this area is slow and power outputs are generally restricted to initiatives which have already been set up. Nuclear power, while an excellent source of renewable energy, has also seen slow growth due to the volatile nature of it.

Asian automobile developers have been particularly keen on advancing hydrogen fuel-cell technology within the transportation industry, with Japan often being cited as a leader in this technology. However, stakeholders from this continent are also advancing other renewable power solutions. In 2023, IHI Corporation (IHI), a Japanese engineering company, and Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PETRONAS' clean energy arm Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), Malaysia's national oil and gas company announced plans to advance green ammonia in Malaysia.

The partnership has two main goals in mind:

IHI is set to assist Gentari by providing advanced engineering and ammonia-firing turbine technology to build up Malaysia's clean energy infrastructure.

The collaboration between these two stakeholders highlights how in order to ensure a sustainable future, industries must work together in order to pool resources and expertise to accelerate the adoption of clean energy to prevent irreversible climate damage.

IHI's collaboration with Gentari is an example of how Japanese companies have been reaching out to share their advanced technology, even with competitors. Toyota has been a prime example of this, with the automobile developer forming partnerships with not only other Japanese competitors but also teaming up with international competitors in order to bring their alternative energy solutions to the rest of the world, showcasing a commitment to net-zero.

Not China, not Japan -- Asia's breakthrough green fuel is about to kill hydrogen