Hydrogen energy is the key clean energy solution in Sarawak, and is getting support in terms of policy, innovation, and growing infrastructure.
The Shift Towards Hydrogen Energy
Hydrogen energy, apart from being a catchy buzzword, raises an important question: is it possible to transition from traditional fossil fuels to hydrogen energy? The short answer is yes, but it is more complicated than you think.
The pursuit of clean energy for climate action was initiated internationally through the establishment of the Paris Agreement, which aims to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Pedro et al., 2026). In Malaysia, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) identifies hydrogen energy as one of six key pathways to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 (National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), 2023). Complementing this is the Sarawak Hydrogen Economy Roadmap (SHER), where the state commits to advancing hydrogen energy development (Sarawak Hydrogen Economy Roadmap (SHER), 2025).
Sarawak has proven to be the forefront of pursuing hydrogen energy as a clean energy pathway to generate energy for commercial use, i.e. hydrogen-powered buses and soon the autonomous rail transit (ART) system in Kuching, Sarawak.
How Hydrogen Energy Works
In principle, hydrogen energy works through hydrogen molecules reacting with oxygen gas. This process does not produce harmful or greenhouse gases; it only produces water. This method supports the decarbonisation of heavy industries and transportation, which are major contributors to carbon emissions.
Challenges in Transitioning to Hydrogen
The transition to hydrogen energy will not be just a technical upgrade, but a total overhaul of our country’s energy economy and infrastructure. Thus, there are a few critical questions to reflect on: Where can we get enough hydrogen to meet the demand? How can we get cheap hydrogen that justifies the shift from using fossil fuels to hydrogen energy systems?
To answer these questions, it is important to understand the different hydrogen production pathways. These are commonly classified by colour (Incer-Valverde et al., 2023):
- grey hydrogen is derived from fossil fuels
- blue hydrogen combines grey hydrogen with carbon capture and storage (CCS)
- turquoise Hydrogen involves cracking natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon
- green Hydrogen uses renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, making it the cleanest option
Sarawak’s Advantage in Green Hydrogen
In Sarawak, hydroelectric dams generate low-cost electricity required for green hydrogen production through water electrolysis (Len, 2024). One challenge remains the high energy demand needed to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
However, Sarawak produces surplus electricity from hydropower, making green hydrogen production more feasible. Ongoing flagship projects such as H2ornbill and H2biscus are projected to produce 90,000 and 150,000 metric tonnes annually (Wong, 2025).
There is still a long journey ahead before a full transition to hydrogen energy. As highlighted by the Premier, The Right Honorable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, “There is no other option, we need alternative energy, and hydrogen, ultimately, is the cleanest” (“Sarawak aiming to transform itself into a centre for clean hydrogen energy,” 2024).
The Role of Education and Research
As educators and researchers, our role becomes clear in advancing hydrogen energy. At Swinburne Sarawak, we train the next generation of engineers with expertise in renewable energy systems, including hydrogen production, storage, and utilisation.
The path forward requires closing the gap between research and real-world application. Future professionals must design, implement, and manage these emerging systems effectively.
In the research labs of Swinburne Sarawak, teams focus on developing low-cost, high-efficiency energy materials to reduce hydrogen production costs. They design engineering solutions to improve system performance and optimise supply chains to reduce carbon footprints.
We invite you to take part in this journey. You can collaborate on research and industry projects or join academic programs that prepare you to shape the hydrogen energy economy at both state and national levels.
Dr Melvin Wee is a lecturer and researcher at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus. With interest in sustainable energy systems, low-carbon technologies, and advanced materials for environmental applications, Dr Wee is contactable at [email protected]