Government Leads International Standardization of Green Hydrogen Production Technology

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] Korea is leading the international standardization of 'green hydrogen' production technology, which produces hydrogen by electrolyzing water using electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

On the 29th, the National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held an international standardization meeting on hydrogen technology via video conference and began the process of establishing the "Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Electrolyzer Facilities Using Renewable Energy" proposed by Korea to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as an international standard. The meeting was attended by over 20 experts, including industry-academia-research professionals from Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Korea Institute of Energy Research, and delegations from 12 major countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Australia.

The international standard proposed by Korea aims to prevent the decline in hydrogen productivity and degradation of membrane performance in electrolyzer facilities caused by unstable electricity production due to the intermittency and variability of renewable energy during green hydrogen production. It defines the "Safety Requirements and Performance Evaluation of Electrolyzer Facilities" and is regarded as a core standard for green hydrogen production technology that can guarantee safe hydrogen production from advanced countries. In May, it was adopted as a New Proposal (NP) without opposition from competing countries in the hydrogen technology sector during the vote at the ISO Hydrogen Technical Committee.

Participants at the meeting focused on discussing the operating range of electrolyzer facilities and membrane performance evaluation methods when linked with renewable energy. They also decided to promote the standardization work with the final goal of establishing the international standard by December 2023.

Lee Sang-hoon, Director of the National Institute of Technology and Standards at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "By leading the international standardization of green hydrogen production technology that emits no carbon, Korea will enhance the safety of renewable energy-linked electrolyzer facilities and secure international competitiveness for our electrolyzer technology." He added, "We will continue to promote the international standardization of various domestic hydrogen technologies to activate the hydrogen economy and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality."