Latin America’s Energy Transition in Focus at Quito Forum
Energy leaders, scientists, and policymakers gathered in Quito for the latest Regional to Global conference to examine the future of Latin America’s energy transition. Hosted by the Global Energy Association, the forum brought together more than 150 participants from across the region and beyond to discuss energy security, decarbonisation, innovation, and affordability amid global climate and geopolitical shifts.
Speakers highlighted Latin America’s strong renewable base, with renewables accounting for 67% of the region’s energy mix last year and projected to reach 76% by mid-century. The region also holds over half of the world’s lithium reserves, positioning it as a strategic player in the global energy transition. However, participants stressed that governments must accelerate efforts in emerging sectors such as green hydrogen and biofuels to strengthen industrial development.
Debate extended beyond renewables to include nuclear power, hydropower, and energy system resilience. Experts from Bolivia and Brazil emphasised nuclear energy’s potential role not only in electricity generation but also in medicine and advanced technologies, while hydropower was described as a foundational yet underappreciated asset in the region’s energy balance. Concerns were raised about over-reliance on intermittent renewables without sufficient grid stability.
The conference also featured the award ceremony for the 2025 Global Energy Prize laureate, Professor Yu Huang of UCLA, recognised for advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology by reducing platinum catalyst use by up to 80%, potentially lowering costs and accelerating clean energy adoption.
Overall, the forum underscored Latin America’s dual challenge: leveraging its renewable and mineral wealth while ensuring energy security, social equity, and technological advancement in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.
Hydrogen Powder Could Challenge Oil’s Logistics Edge
Australian researchers are developing a new way to store and transport hydrogen as a stable powder using sodium borohydride. Instead of moving volatile gas or cryogenic liquid, the hydrogen is embedded in a solid material that can be shipped conventionally and released on demand by adding water. Backed by ARENA, the project aims to scale green hydrogen exports and potentially solve hydrogen’s biggest bottleneck: logistics. If successful, this approach could weaken oil’s long-standing advantage in energy transport.
Link: https://www.ecoportal.net/en/oils-endgame-500000000-kg-powder-energy/17319/
Green Hydrogen to Dominate Low-Carbon Supply by 2030 – GlobalData
Green hydrogen is set to overtake blue hydrogen as the leading form of low-carbon production by 2030, accounting for nearly 89% of total capacity, according to a new GlobalData report. Global low-carbon hydrogen capacity is projected to surge from 1.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2024 to between 42 mtpa and 65.3 mtpa by the end of the decade. The shift is expected to be driven largely by major capacity additions across the Americas, supported by federal and state-level policies in the US, alongside initiatives in Canada and emerging frameworks in Mexico.
BLNR to Review Proposed 20-MW Hydrogen Plant in Kapolei
Hawai‘i’s Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) will consider a proposal by Eurus Energy America to build a green hydrogen facility in Kapolei’s Campbell Industrial Park. The project would use a 20-MW solar array on a 100-acre state parcel to power electrolysers extracting hydrogen from recycled water. Estimated annual production ranges between 500,000 and 800,000 kilograms, with operations potentially starting in late 2027. Hydrogen would be transported by truck—or possibly pipeline—while the project remains subject to land approval and public consultation.
Link: https://alohastatedaily.com/2026/01/07/blnr-to-discuss-proposed-kapolei-hydrogen-plant/
USGS Map Highlights Geological Hydrogen Potential Across Four US States
A 2025 assessment by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has identified significant geological hydrogen potential across parts of the United States, challenging previous assumptions that naturally occurring hydrogen is rare. The newly released map points to high-probability zones in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah—often referred to as the “Four Corners” region—with Michigan also showing notable potential. According to research published in Science Advances, the estimated energy associated with these subsurface hydrogen resources could be substantial, potentially reshaping long-term energy planning. While commercial viability remains untested, the findings suggest geological hydrogen—sometimes called “white hydrogen”—may emerge as a carbon-free energy option amid rising electricity demand and decarbonisation pressures.
Charbone to Establish First Hydrogen Supply Hub in Ontario
Charbone Hydrogen Corporation (TSXV: CH) has announced plans to launch its first Hydrogen Supply Hub in Ontario, expanding its clean ultra high purity (UHP) hydrogen distribution network across Canada. The facility will serve as a local storage and logistics center supporting industrial, advanced manufacturing, and mobility customers throughout Southern Ontario. Using existing storage tube assets and infrastructure, the hub is designed to improve supply reliability, reduce third-party logistics dependence, and strengthen operational control. The project marks a key step in Charbone’s hub-and-spoke strategy to build a scalable hydrogen production and distribution platform across North America.
Link: https://investingnews.com/charbone-announces-its-first-hydrogen-supply-hub-in-the-ontario-market/
Sumitomo Takes Strategic Stake in Independence Hydrogen to Expand US Production
Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) has acquired a strategic stake in Virginia-based Independence Hydrogen to accelerate hydrogen production and distribution across the United States. The partnership aims to scale Independence Hydrogen’s decentralized hydrogen (DeHy®) model, which captures industrial by-product hydrogen and upgrades it to fuel-cell-grade quality. The investment is expected to support new US projects, improve supply reliability, and reduce costs while advancing clean energy deployment. Executives from both companies emphasized the collaboration as a key step in expanding low-carbon hydrogen infrastructure and strengthening the US hydrogen market.
Link: https://energiesmedia.com/sumitomo-corporation-independence-hydrogen/
DEWA Explores Hydrogen and Clean Energy Collaboration with US Partners
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Managing Director and CEO HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer met with representatives from the First Public Hydrogen Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute of America (EPRI) to discuss cooperation in sustainable energy and innovation. Talks focused on research, smart grids, renewable energy integration, energy storage, cybersecurity, and advanced data analytics, alongside specialised training programmes. Al Tayer reaffirmed DEWA’s commitment to advancing the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 through international collaboration, capacity building, and technology exchange.
New Mexico Mine to Be Repurposed for 104 MW Green Hydrogen Project
A former molybdenum mine in Questa, New Mexico, is set to be transformed into a green hydrogen production hub capable of generating 104 MW of clean energy—enough to power approximately 25,000 homes annually. Backed by $231 million in funding from the US Department of Agriculture, the project will use reclaimed mine water for electrolysis, turning a former industrial site into a renewable energy asset. In addition to long-term energy storage benefits, the development is expected to create over 350 jobs and deliver significant economic gains to Taos County, supporting both regional decarbonisation goals and local economic revitalisation.
Link: https://energiesmedia.com/hydrogen-found-in-america-104-mw-power/
Toyota Tests Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Trucks in Arizona Desert
Toyota is accelerating its hydrogen ambitions by testing Class 8 fuel-cell electric trucks at its Arizona proving grounds, even drag racing them against diesel models. The hydrogen-powered trucks emit only water vapor and offer quick refueling times similar to gasoline vehicles—addressing one of the main drawbacks of battery EVs.
Backed by decades of hydrogen research, Toyota is also investing in US infrastructure, including a stake in FirstElement Fuel and operating its North American Hydrogen Headquarters (H2HQ) in California. Through projects like its Tri-gen facility in Long Beach—which produces renewable electricity, hydrogen, and recycled water from biogas—the automaker aims to scale hydrogen as a viable zero-emissions solution for heavy-duty transport, despite ongoing infrastructure and funding challenges.
Link: https://www.popsci.com/technology/toyota-hydrogen-powered-vehicles/
Hawaii Green Hydrogen Project Advances at Campbell Industrial Park
Eurus Energy America’s proposed Olai Green Hydrogen and Solar Project in Kalaeloa has taken a step forward after Hawaii’s Board of Land and Natural Resources approved public hearings on the plan. The project would use 90 acres of a 100-acre industrial site at Campbell Industrial Park for a solar array to power electrolysis, producing between 500,000 and 800,000 kilograms of green hydrogen annually.
The hydrogen could fuel trucks, buses, and other vehicles, helping Hawaii reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. If completed by late 2027, the facility would mark the state’s first large-scale green hydrogen production plant, supporting local energy security and transportation decarbonization.
Pentagon Approves Hydrogen-Powered Z1 Drone for Rapid Deployment
The US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has added Heven AeroTech’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered Z1 drone to its Blue UAS Cleared List, paving the way for rapid procurement by US forces. The Z1 offers up to 10 hours of endurance per hydrogen fuel cell—significantly longer than battery-powered drones—while operating more quietly and with a lower thermal signature than combustion-based systems.
Hydrogen fuel cells provide extended mission duration without frequent battery swaps, reducing logistical strain in contested environments. Complementing the drone is a mobile “nanogrid” hydrogen production and refueling station that uses solar-powered electrolysis to generate fuel on demand, enabling sustained operations in remote or frontline settings.
The move signals growing Pentagon interest in hydrogen technologies for ISR and special operations, as longer endurance, reduced detectability, and self-sufficient energy systems become critical advantages in modern drone warfare.
Link: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-pentagon-eyeing-hydrogen-powered-drone-bw-012526