KEPCO Achieves Domestic First Success in Demonstration of 'Hydrogen Storage Liquid Technology'

A Korea Electric Power Corporation official operating a hydrogen storage liquid technology (LOHC) facility. (Photo by Korea Electric Power Corporation)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) announced on the 10th that it has succeeded in demonstrating the storage of hydrogen at a rate of 20 N㎥ per hour using the country's first 'Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC)' technology.

LOHC technology is a cutting-edge technology that began in 2017. Until now, most research has remained at the basic research level with small-scale experiments of only 1 N㎥, but KEPCO has succeeded in demonstrating LOHC storage technology.

Additionally, KEPCO is the first to receive a technical review report for high-pressure equipment general manufacturing facilities and a gas usage facility completion inspection certificate from the Korea Gas Safety Corporation for hydrogen storage facilities applying LOHC.

According to KEPCO, the currently used hydrogen storage technology in Korea requires compressing and storing hydrogen at pressures over 200 times atmospheric pressure and transporting it by tanker trucks, which involves high costs and risks.

Thanks to the newly developed LOHC technology, hydrogen can be stored safely and transported by being absorbed into liquid compounds, and transportation costs are expected to decrease.

LOHC solution containing hydrogen (Photo by Korea Electric Power Corporation)

KEPCO explained that under certain conditions such as temperatures between 50~180℃ and pressures about 50 times atmospheric pressure, hydrogen reacts with the hydrogen storage liquid DBT (Dibenzyltoluene) and a catalyst, and is absorbed and stored in the liquid compound.

When hydrogen reacts with the catalyst at temperatures above 250℃ and about three times atmospheric pressure, hydrogen is separated from the stored liquid. The separated hydrogen storage liquid can be reused.

Assuming about 5 kg of hydrogen is charged per hydrogen electric vehicle, 100ℓ of LOHC can charge one hydrogen vehicle. There is no leakage even after storing for more than one year.

A KEPCO official stated, "LOHC has significantly higher storage capacity, safety, and economic efficiency compared to conventional compressed storage methods," and added, "KEPCO Power Research Institute will continue to do its best to develop various new energy technologies to support the government's eco-friendly policies."