State- and Public-Led Hydrogen Economy Must Shift to Corporate and Private Sector Leadership
Carbon Neutrality through Hydrogen Cities, Increased Potential for Export Models

Experts suggested that the Hydrogen City Act should be enacted promptly to lead carbon neutrality, secure a brand advantage, and generate economic innovation effects such as overseas exports.

Pyeongtaek City and Assemblyman Hong Ki-won held a 'Legislative Forum for the Creation and Revitalization of a Hydrogen City' at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 9th and discussed the construction of a hydrogen city.

In his congratulatory remarks, Kim Jong-hak, Vice President of the Korea Institute of Construction Technology, stated, “Hydrogen is an energy source capable of solving environmental problems such as global warming,” adding, “Concerns regarding safety and technical limitations exist, so a strategic approach through pilot projects is necessary.”

He further emphasized, “We must expand our scope through hydrogen supply infrastructure and the diversification of hydrogen mobility, and establish a structure where hydrogen functions as an energy source in urban life,” adding, “It is necessary to shift the hydrogen economy, which has been led by the state and the public sector, to a model led by companies and the private sector.”

Participants in the legislative debate agreed that a legal framework must be established promptly to build a hydrogen city.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's carbon neutrality roadmap, the land, infrastructure, and transport sector accounts for 2% of Korea's total carbon emissions.It accounts for 1%.

This means that carbon neutrality in space and transportation is the core of 2050 carbon neutrality.

Kang Kyung-soo, a principal researcher at the Korea Institute of Energy Research, stated, “The existing legal framework has limitations in terms of acceptance,” and expressed his hope for the swift enactment of the Hydrogen City Act. He noted, “The Act on the Construction and Operation of Hydrogen Cities (hereinafter the Hydrogen City Act) stipulates the transition to a hydrogen economy society by establishing a hydrogen ecosystem across all urban sectors, and by encouraging the participation of private companies, it will serve as a model to complete the hydrogen economy.”

As an example of the limitations of acceptance, Senior Researcher Kang stated that there are cases where the buildings that can be constructed in Class 3 general residential areas are limited to solar power facilities under the urban planning ordinances of each city and province, making it impossible to install 400kW-class building/power generation fuel cells utilizing hydrogen.

Senior Researcher Kang's opinion is that the enactment of the Hydrogen City Act should provide a basis for local governments to enact or amend related ordinances.

Lee Jeong-chan, a research fellow at the Korea Institute of Land Research, argued, “Global carbon neutrality is a mid-to-long-term megatrend that will last for at least 50 years in the economic and industrial sectors,” adding, “The model for local and national carbon neutrality achievement through hydrogen cities is highly likely to become an advanced case for the whole world to benchmark and an export model.”

Just as Korea initiated smart cities with the world's first legislation, it is once again pursuing the world's first hydrogen city initiative at the stage of global carbon neutrality.

This research fellow also suggested that now that the potential has been confirmed, the Hydrogen City Act should be enacted and implemented quickly to secure a brand advantage and generate economic innovation effects, such as overseas exports.

Park Jong-woo, Managing Director of Korea Engineering & Construction, represented the construction industry's views on the Hydrogen City Act.

The construction industry is hydrogenIt was reported that there is ambiguity in relevant laws when implementing the Ryojeonji combined heat and power generation facility project.

Executive Director Park stated, “The determination criteria for hydrogen fuel cell facilities are missing among the facilities defined in the ‘Rules on the Determination, Structure, and Installation Standards of Urban and County Planning Facilities.’” He added, “If hydrogen fuel cell facilities are interpreted as electricity supply facilities, power generation facilities classified as new and renewable energy facilities cannot be installed in exclusive residential areas or general residential areas.”

He went on to emphasize the need to push for the enactment of regulations to exclude solar power facilities and hydrogen fuel cell facilities, which are becoming widespread and can be introduced as distributed power generation systems within urban areas.

While the rapid expansion of infrastructure such as related energy production and supply facilities and transportation facilities is essential for establishing a hydrogen city, government support measures for cargo vehicles and construction machinery, which are the main culprits of CO2 emissions, are insufficient.

Therefore, Executive Director Park stated that when creating a hydrogen city, it is also necessary to establish the necessary infrastructure through measures such as mandating the installation of hydrogen refueling stations for commercial vehicles within urban logistics facilities or providing support.

Finally, he announced that many businesses are facing difficulties in project implementation due to complaints arising from the lack of domestic awareness regarding hydrogen facilities, and expressed his hope that the enactment of the Hydrogen City Act would improve public perception of hydrogen facilities and establish a legal foundation for future projects.nbsp;