Government Strengthens Global Multilateral Cooperation to Revitalize Hydrogen Economy

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The government is strengthening global multilateral cooperation to revitalize the hydrogen economy.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy attended the 36th International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) General Meeting held over two days from the 16th to the 17th. At this meeting, held via video conference due to COVID-19, IPHE member countries presented their newly implemented national hydrogen economy policies since the June general meeting and the progress of working group tasks within IPHE.

During the discussion on the recent hydrogen policy status of each country, the Ministry introduced the contents of the "Hydrogen Economy Achievements and Hydrogen Leading Nation Vision" announced by the government and companies in October. It also explained Korea's plan to establish a full-cycle ecosystem in hydrogen production, transportation and storage, and utilization for the transition to a clean hydrogen economy.

Additionally, the Ministry shared Korea's hydrogen economy status by explaining the current status of hydrogen vehicles, fuel cells, and charging stations, the formation status of private sector hydrogen councils such as the "H2 Business Summit," and introduced "Haying," a real-time information application for hydrogen charging stations currently conducting pilot services.

The United States, Germany, and the European Union (EU) also agreed on the importance of hydrogen utilization to achieve carbon neutrality and presented their latest hydrogen economy policies. Germany announced the start of operation of Europe's largest water electrolysis facility (10 MW), and the United Kingdom introduced its recently announced hydrogen strategy, explaining their national hydrogen policies and industry status.

An official from the Ministry said, "Competition among countries to secure the hydrogen economy is intensifying, and through various policies and large-scale investments, the global hydrogen economy is taking root. We plan to promote the development of Korea's hydrogen economy policies and industrial ecosystem through detailed analysis of global hydrogen economy policies and environments, and to continue bilateral and multilateral cooperation to respond to the global spread of the hydrogen economy."