Taiwan on Wednesday opened its first two hydrogen refuelling stations in the territory, marking a long-awaited step into hydrogen mobility as the government and state-owned energy firms evaluate the fuel’s role in the island’s energy transition.
Renewables supplied about 12 per cent of the island’s electricity in 2024, with fossil fuels still accounting for more than 80 per cent, demonstrating the challenges facing alternative fuels such as hydrogen.
State-run CPC Corp Taiwan and industrial gas company Linde LienHwa inaugurated a demonstration hydrogen station in Kaohsiung’s Nanzih district and a second pilot facility at Linde LienHwa’s Shugu site, following several years of planning, construction and regulatory approvals.
CPC Chairman Fang Chen-jen said the projects were a milestone for public-private cooperation in building a domestic hydrogen industry, adding the company would align future expansion with government policy and hydrogen bus trials. Hydrogen buses are already in service in cities across Europe and Asia, with China operating the world’s largest fleets and Japan and South Korea deploying them as part of national hydrogen strategies.
“We will continue to support the development of a hydrogen ecosystem,” Fang said, noting plans to work with local governments to expand refuelling sites if demand grows.
The Nanzih station, developed by CPC, can refuel up to seven hydrogen buses a day and supports both 700-bar and 350-bar hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, according to CPC Vice President Lo Po-tung. The station was initially designed to serve hydrogen buses under a transport ministry pilot programme, but could later be expanded to passenger cars, trucks and container vehicles, CPC said.
Hydrogen pricing at the site has yet to be finalised. Lo said the station remains a demonstration project and hydrogen prices are still under evaluation.
Taiwan’s entry into hydrogen refuelling comes as other Asian economies move more aggressively. Globally, more than 1,000 hydrogen stations are in operation, with South Korea hosting about 200 and Japan around 160. Linde, LienHwa’s global partner, has built roughly 200 stations worldwide.
Both Taiwanese stations use Linde technology, featuring modular designs and compact footprints suited to Taiwan’s current hydrogen mobility needs, the companies said.
The Shugu station, located within Linde LienHwa’s hydrogen production facility, will initially operate on a non-profit basis for cross-sector applications and technology validation, according to Linde LienHwa Chairman Peter Owen. The site could later be converted into a commercial station depending on market demand.
“Hydrogen is an indispensable option on the path to net zero,” Owen said, adding that the company has invested in hydrogen technologies for three decades.
The launch coincides with growing international momentum on alternative fuels. At the COP30 climate summit, 19 countries including Japan and Brazil signed the Belém Sustainable Fuels Commitment, pledging to quadruple the use of sustainable fuels such as biofuels and hydrogen by 2035.
Taiwan’s economy ministry said the opening of the stations showed the island was moving in step with advanced economies. Hydrogen could also be used beyond transport, including in steelmaking and industrial decarbonisation, officials said.
Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lo Ta-sheng said as the two sites were Taiwan’s first hydrogen stations, they required regulators to develop safety rules and technical standards from scratch. He said the projects could serve as models for other cities.
Building hydrogen stations remains costly and complex. Each station costs about NT$100 million to NT$150 million (US$3.1 million to US$4.7 million), Lo Po-tung said, and typically takes around four years from planning to final operating approval.
Taiwan’s energy administration issued rules governing hydrogen fuel sales in November 2023. CPC received construction approval in April to May 2024 and spent months securing permits for hazardous materials, workplace safety and equipment inspections before obtaining its operating licence in the fourth quarter of this year.
Site selection and safety were the biggest challenges. Regulations require hydrogen dispensers and compressors to be at least eight metres from roads. The Nanzih station is located about 50 metres from a major roadway, well beyond the minimum requirement, and underwent independent safety assessments by Germany’s TÜV before construction.
The station is equipped with flame and hydrogen sensors, automatic fire suppression systems and non-combustible roofing designed to channel gas safely in the event of a leak.
Public acceptance will be critical if Taiwan expands its hydrogen network, Lo said.
“Even if suitable land is found, gaining the trust of local communities will determine whether there is a market,” he noted.
