Kshitji Dua, an associate partner at McKinsey & Company, delivered a keynote speech at the Korea Times Forum in central Seoul, discussing the energy transition and the growing demand for hydrogen energy in Asia by 2050. Dua highlighted the significant increase in global hydrogen demand and the pivotal role Asia, particularly Korea, China, and Japan, will play in the hydrogen economy. The speech emphasized the shift towards renewable energy sources and the importance of hydrogen as a circulated resource. McKinsey's Global Energy Perspective 2024 projects chemicals to lead in hydrogen consumption by 2050, followed by refining and sectors like road transport and aviation. Dua also stressed the necessity of embracing renewable and low carbon energy sources to meet net zero goals. Despite challenges related to business viability, supply chains, and geopolitical developments, Dua highlighted the potential for nuclear energy in the energy transition. The speech called for collaboration among industry players, governments, and communities to address the technical, financial, and social hurdles in the energy transition. Dua urged economies to proactively embrace the upcoming energy era and emphasized the need for a collective effort to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving energy landscape.