South Korea's energy ministry (Motie) announced today it is recruiting operators to build two clean hydrogen production bases, in efforts to expand such infrastructure in the country.
Motie plans to provide 5.5bn South Korean won ($4.1mn) for water electrolysis hydrogen production bases and W6.8bn for carbon-capture hydrogen production facilities over three years to selected consortiums.
Motie said one of the hydrogen facilities will use water electrolysis for production, with the other producing hydrogen by reforming natural gas and collecting the carbon dioxide (CO2) generated in the process.
The ministry expects the carbon-collecting hydrogen base to have a production capacity of over 365 t/yr, supplying nearby hydrogen charging stations. It will also stabilise domestic CO2 supplies by capturing and liquefying CO2 for supplying the shipbuilding industry, as well as the food and beverage sector.
Companies and local government that wish to participate in the project are to submit their applications by 30 June.
South Korea last year also selected two sites in the first iteration of its hydrogen production base project.
It selected domestic firm Hyundai Engineering and Construction (Hyundai E&C) to lead a consortium to establish a 2.5MW water electrolysis project in North Jeolla province's Buan city, in what the firm described as the country's first such facility. Hyundai E&C is involved in designing the facility, buying equipment and materials, as well as construction. It said last year that the facility is expected to produce, store and transport over 365 t/yr of hydrogen and to be completed by May 2024. Motie expects Hyundai to be involved in overseas water electrolysis construction projects, such as in Chile, in the future.
The other site selected last year is a water electrolysis project located in Gangwon province's Pyeongchang county, led by domestic petrochemical producer Hanwha Solutions. The producer is working with the province to produce green hydrogen using electricity from a province-owned wind power generator, with the hydrogen to be supplied to the nearby Daegwallyeong hydrogen refuelling station.
South Korea's most recent push to expand clean hydrogen infrastructure is in line with plans to open a hydrogen power bidding market by June, which will differentiate between clean and general hydrogen power generation. The country also earlier this month outlined its clean hydrogen certification system, with the greenhouse gas emissions standard for clean hydrogen proposed at 4kg of CO2 equivalent for every kg of hydrogen produced.
