Hanwha Solutions Enters Hydrogen Market for Vehicle Fuel

Hyundai Glovis Appointed as New Hydrogen Supplier for Vehicle Hydrogen Refueling Station Project

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Hanwha Solutions is entering the vehicle fuel hydrogen market, which is expected to reach a total scale of 3.2 trillion KRW by 2030. The company is set to actively build a hydrogen ecosystem for the production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen.

Hanwha Solutions announced on the 27th that it will supply vehicle fuel hydrogen to Hyundai Glovis, which is establishing a hydrogen refueling network at highway rest areas. Starting from July, it plans to supply a total of 48 tons of hydrogen over two years, and will continue to increase supply in line with the expansion of vehicle hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The demand for vehicle fuel hydrogen is expected to grow significantly to 370,000 tons annually by 2030.

The hydrogen supplied by Hanwha Solutions is produced at its Yeosu plant during the caustic soda production process. When salt (NaCl), the raw material for caustic soda, is dissolved in water (H2O) and decomposed, hydrogen (H2) is generated. Unlike hydrogen produced from typical petrochemical processes (byproduct hydrogen), hydrogen produced from saltwater does not emit air pollutants, making it environmentally friendly. The hydrogen produced in this way undergoes a purification process to be converted into vehicle fuel hydrogen with a purity of 99.999%, and will be supplied to regional hydrogen refueling stations through Hyundai Glovis.

In response to the global energy transition, Hanwha Solutions is building infrastructure across the entire hydrogen value chain, including production, storage, and transportation. Leveraging over 40 years of experience operating saltwater electrolysis processes, the company is also developing water electrolysis technology to produce green hydrogen based on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

Additionally, together with Gangwon Province and Korea Gas Technology Corporation, Hanwha Solutions plans to construct a water electrolysis facility and refueling station capable of producing up to 290 tons of green hydrogen annually in Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, by the second half of next year, and operate it for the next 15 years.

A Hanwha Solutions representative stated, "Starting with this project, we plan to gradually expand the supply of vehicle fuel hydrogen, thereby establishing the foundation of the hydrogen value chain from production to supply."