Government to Announce 'Hydrogen and Ammonia Power Generation Roadmap' in Q1 Next Year: "Aiming to Become the World's No. 1 Country"

The 2nd Meeting of the 'Hydrogen and Ammonia Power Generation Demonstration Promotion Team' Held

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The government has decided to prepare and announce a 'Hydrogen and Ammonia Power Generation Roadmap' in the first quarter of next year to leap forward as the world's number one hydrogen and ammonia power generation country.

On the 7th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the 2nd meeting of the 'Hydrogen and Ammonia Power Generation Demonstration Promotion Team' chaired by Vice Minister Park Ki-young.

The attendees agreed that hydrogen and ammonia power generation technology is an effective means of carbon neutrality that can maintain appropriate output and grid stability through rotational motion while utilizing existing assets. They also shared the intention to strive for South Korea to become the world's number one hydrogen and ammonia power generation country based on its globally excellent thermal power infrastructure, industrial ecosystem, outstanding workforce, and technological capabilities.

The government plans to designate 2022 as the inaugural year of full-scale hydrogen and ammonia power generation and to prepare the hydrogen and ammonia power generation roadmap within the first quarter of next year.

Korea Electric Power Corporation and the Korea Electric Power Research Institute are expected to complete the construction of additional test facilities such as hydrogen and ammonia supply and safety equipment and combustion test devices by the first half of 2022. Subsequently, in 2023, they plan to derive optimal co-firing operation techniques and prepare a 'Hydrogen and Ammonia Power Generation Guide' that can be applied to actual coal and LNG power plants.

Additionally, to promote ammonia co-firing power generation, public power companies and private enterprises will collaborate to launch 'Carbon-Free Eco-friendly Ammonia Power Generation Technology Research and Development (R&D)' starting January next year. Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction and Hyundai Heavy Industries Power Systems will devise plans for constructing ammonia co-firing power generation facilities, while Lotte Fine Chemical will establish a supply network for large-scale ammonia fuel. In particular, Korea Southern Power will develop and apply ammonia co-firing technology from next year by utilizing its operating coal power plants and plans to commercialize 20% ammonia co-firing after 2024.

For hydrogen co-firing power generation, Korea Western Power will complete a demonstration study of 50% hydrogen co-firing power generation by the end of 2022 through a business agreement with Hanwha Impact and plans to promote demonstration of over 70% hydrogen co-firing by 2025.

Vice Minister Park said, "Hydrogen and ammonia power generation will be an important starting point for energy transition," and added, "I hope that the government, public institutions, and private companies will closely cooperate centered on the Hydrogen and Ammonia Power Generation Demonstration Promotion Team so that South Korea can become the world's first and best in the hydrogen and ammonia power generation field."