For a glimpse into the future of a hydrogen-fueled world, look no further than natural gas and the technology that rapidly transformed it into a global commodity.

Following natural gas’s lead, Japan is preparing to trial imports from Australia of superchilled liquid hydrogen. German energy utility RWE AG is promoting hydrogen in a planned liquefied natural gas terminal, while Britain’s National Grid PLC is exploring options for the fuel at its LNG port near London.

"In the future, many LNG import terminals will almost certainly allow for the import of both LNG and liquid hydrogen,” said Rob Butler, a global projects partner at law firm Baker Botts.