▲ Details of 2023 New Hydrogen Charging Station Installation Subsidy Project (Image source: Ministry of Environment)

Early public call begins on the 29th, operator selection expected to be completed by March next year
2023 hydrogen charging station installation subsidy project: 86 total projects, 189.6 billion won to be executed

The Ministry of Environment is hastening to begin public recruitment of private hydrogen charging station government subsidy projects in December to accelerate the construction of hydrogen charging stations in 2023.

The Ministry of Environment announced on the 28th that it will begin public recruitment of 38 private hydrogen charging station government subsidy projects for 2023 through the Korea Automobile Environmental Association website starting December 29th.

The public recruitment period runs from December 29th through February 7th, 2023.

The private subsidy project promotion plan for hydrogen charging station installation includes 38 projects planned as private subsidies out of a total of 50 new hydrogen charging station installation subsidy projects. The recruitment will proceed for 12 passenger hydrogen charging stations (6 single-year projects and 6 two-year projects) and 26 commercial hydrogen charging stations (2 single-year projects and 24 two-year projects).

The Ministry of Environment plans to execute 189.6 billion won for a total of 86 projects (50 new projects) in hydrogen charging station installation subsidy projects in 2023.

This public call comprises 38 private subsidy projects excluding 12 local government projects among new projects, and consists of 8 single-year projects and 30 two-year projects.

Following this year, the Ministry of Environment plans to continue through public call procedures next year to expand hydrogen refueling infrastructure and promote the transition to large hydrogen vehicles such as hydrogen buses.

To support various types of hydrogen charging stations, the Ministry plans to expand specialized-use (for buses, trucks, etc.) liquid hydrogen charging stations from 5 locations this year to 10 locations next year, a system introduced starting this year.

The liquid hydrogen charging stations mentioned above will be supported only for operators and quantities that have passed the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's regulatory exemptions.

The Ministry of Environment plans to allow multiple applications with different charging station types (general, specialized, liquid, etc.) even for the same site, so that the proposed sites from this public call can be utilized to the maximum extent.

In addition, the Ministry plans to conduct the public call with substantive project selection and evaluation, including on-site verification of application sites and assessment of compatibility with the "Hydrogen Charging Station Strategic Deployment Plan (2021-2025)" and the progress of construction projects by each operator.

Prior to this, the Korea Environment Corporation is providing site information that has been reviewed as feasible for hydrogen charging station installation to bus depots nationwide to increase participation in the public call.

For 620 bus depots nationwide, the Corporation has assessed legal disqualifications related to hydrogen charging station installation and made public 33 sites reviewed as feasible for hydrogen charging station installation through on-site surveys, etc., with priority on the Korea Environment Corporation website.

Following the provision of 200 sites' information last year, sharing sites reviewed as feasible for hydrogen charging station installation this year as well is expected to provide substantial assistance to operators and others experiencing significant difficulties in site discovery.

Park Yeon-jae, Director of Air Quality Policy at the Ministry of Environment, said "The government will continue to make efforts to expand the supply of hydrogen vehicles with high national competitiveness to reduce greenhouse gases and fine dust in the transportation sector. We anticipate that this early launch of the public call will help rapidly secure refueling convenience for hydrogen vehicles, and we will continue to make efforts in administrative support and inter-agency cooperation so that necessary procedures for hydrogen charging station installation can be carried out smoothly even after project selection," he added.