| | DECEMBER 20258IN MY OPINIONHenry Hui is a versatile project management profession-al known for his commitment to integrity, accountability, and a strong work ethic. His track record includes consis-tently surpassing expectations and achieving outstanding outcomes in difficult circumstances. Over the course of his career spanning over 20 year across business development, engineering, project execution, and product management, he has strived to set a positive example by always prioritizing doing things correctly and ethically. Journey and Daily RolesI work for a cryogenic company specializing in a wide range of cryogenic products, like palms, heat exchangers, and process systems. My daily role focuses on identifying opportunities to deliver value to customers while supporting their decarbon-ization and sustainability goals. This is challenging amid rapid sector growth and numerous solutions that often lack proven performance or cost-effectiveness. Emerging technologies like hydrogen and ammonia add complexity due to safety, scal-ability, and permitting hurdles, particularly in new markets.As projects expand beyond previous scales, navigating outdated codes and regulations is increasingly difficult. Al-though successful models exist across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, aligning regulations remains a key industry challenge.Navigating Major ChallengesThe space I work in primarily focuses on cryogenic hydrogen, a field with only a handful of operational plants worldwide, most of them in the U.S. As global interest in hydrogen con-tinues to grow, many professionals from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector are now venturing into this domain. While there are similarities in process design, handling hydrogen in its cryogenic state presents unique challenges that differ significantly from those of LNG. Misapplying LNG practices or standards to hydrogen can lead to flawed economic mod-els and serious safety risks.Relying on LNG-centric codes and regulations, such as API standards, can be misleading for clients entering the hy-drogen market. For example, oversized systems or designs copied from LNG applications can compromise safety rath-er than enhance it. A case in point is the use of firewater systems in hydrogen production facilities that involve elec-trolyzers or liquefied hydrogen storage. Introducing water in such settings increases risk due to electrical exposure and potential ice formation. This can obstruct hydrogen outlets or ventilation paths, creating hazardous conditions.Hydrogen itself is a simple molecule and relatively easy to handle when properly managed. The key lies in early leak detection and effective source isolation, forming the basis of a sound facility design and operational philosophy. Howev-er, one of the industry's pressing challenges is the shortage of professionals with hands-on operational experience. It is essential that we strengthen education and training efforts, ensuring newcomers understand hydrogen's distinct charac-teristics and operational requirements.CHARTING THE PATH TO HYDROGEN ECONOMY FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROWBy Henry Hui, Corporate VP, H2 Strategy & Energy Infrastructure, Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial GasesHenry Hui
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