The domestic hydrogen industry is expected to gain momentum as hydrogen refueling stations in the metropolitan area, which were originally only able to produce an average of 2 tons of hydrogen per day, are now able to produce an average of 7 tons of hydrogen per day at the Pyeongtaek hydrogen production facility.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (hereinafter the Ministry) completed construction of the Pyeongtaek Hydrogen Production Base located in the Asan National Industrial Complex in Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, and held a completion ceremony on the 27th.

Since 2019, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has been promoting the construction of small-scale hydrogen production bases in seven regions nationwide that supply hydrogen fuel using city gas near demand centers in order to resolve the regional imbalance in the supply of hydrogen for vehicles produced in petrochemical complexes such as Daesan, Ulsan, and Yeosu.

The completion of the Pyeongtaek hydrogen production facility is the second following the Changwon facility, which has been in operation since the end of 2021, and the first in the metropolitan area.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy initially invested 5 billion won with the goal of producing 1 ton of hydrogen per day, but later, Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province and the private sector invested an additional 18.15 billion won in anticipation of increased hydrogen demand in the future, and the facility was completed with a maximum daily hydrogen production capacity of 7 tons.

The supply volume of the 33 hydrogen refueling stations currently in operation in the metropolitan area is 2 tons per day on average, based on the Korea Gas Corporation Hydrogen Distribution Information System, totaling 55 tons per month.

The production capacity of the completed Pyeongtaek hydrogen base, 7 tons, is enough to supply fuel to 430,000 hydrogen vehicles annually, assuming a maximum charging capacity of 6 kg based on Hyundai Motor's Nexo model.

In addition to vehicle fuel, Pyeongtaek City is planning to achieve carbon neutralityIn accordance with the 'Hydrogen Complex District Development Plan,' there are plans to expand the supply of household and industrial hydrogen to the nearby hydrogen pilot city and Pyeongtaek Port in the future.

The Pyeongtaek base is scheduled to begin hydrogen production next month following trial runs, and once operational, it is expected to contribute to lowering hydrogen distribution prices and strengthening the technological competitiveness of the domestic hydrogen industry.

33 hydrogen refueling stations in the metropolitan area are expected to save about 50% of transportation costs by switching their supply sources from remote locations, such as the Daesan Petrochemical Complex, to the Pyeongtaek production base.

Some production processes at the Pyeongtaek base used a domestically produced hydrogen reformer developed by the Korea Institute of Energy Research and commercialized by the domestic company Wonil T&I, which was designated as an innovative prototype by the Public Procurement Service in 2020.

As production track record accumulates in the future, expanded domestic use of the facility and overseas expansion are also expected.

To achieve carbon neutrality, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to complete the establishment of seven currently planned small-scale hydrogen production bases (based on natural gas) this year and additionally support the construction of clean hydrogen production bases equipped with water electrolysis and carbon capture capabilities by 2026.

Park Il-jun, the Second Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony on this day, stated in his congratulatory remarks, “The Pyeongtaek production base will serve as an important foundation leading the transition to the hydrogen economy era in the metropolitan area,” adding, “We plan to promptly implement institutional support, such as introducing a clean hydrogen certification system and opening a hydrogen power generation market, to foster the world’s leading hydrogen industry.”