‘New Leap, Future of Eco-Friendly Hydrogen Energy Industrial City’ International Forum
Discussion on Role and Utilization of Hydrogen Fuel Cells for 2030 Carbon Neutral City Transition
Mayor Lee Kang-deok: “We Will Focus Administrative Effor
On the 26th, Pohang City held the '2023 Pohang International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Forum' at the POSCO International Hall to discuss development plans for the hydrogen fuel cell industry, which is gaining attention as a future new growth industry.
On the 26th, Pohang City held the '2023 Pohang International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Forum' at the POSCO International Hall.
Hosted and organized by Pohang City and Pohang Technopark, and sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Gyeongbuk Province, this forum was held under the theme "A New Leap Forward, The Future of an Eco-friendly Hydrogen Energy Industrial City." It was attended by about 200 people, including Mayor Lee Kang-deok, City Council Chairman Baek In-gyu, Kim Jung-kwon, Head of the East Sea Regional Headquarters, R&D institution representatives, and other officials.
In the keynote speech marking the start of the forum, Lee Wang-jae, CEO of SK Ecoplant Eco Energy, presented "Hydrogen Economy Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality," proposing an energy paradigm shift and solutions in response to the severity of climate change faced worldwide.
Following this, international speakers participated in lectures, including Dr. Stephan Kiermaier from the Helmholtz Institute Ulm in Germany, Sjoerd Rooijakkers, Senior Policy Officer for Energy Systems at the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Lars Hammarstrom, Science and Innovation Counselor at the Embassy of Sweden in Korea, sharing technological information and hydrogen innovation strategies from leading hydrogen countries.
Additionally, Kim Min-seok, CEO of SFuelCell, Lee Tae-won, CEO of FCI, and Yang Tae-hyun, Head of the K-Hydrogen Project Promotion Group at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology, discussed the current status and future directions of domestic companies' hydrogen fuel cell development through thematic presentations.
Finally, in the panel discussion chaired by Jang Sung-hyuk, CEO of the Hydrogen Knowledge Group, participants including Kim Yong-chae, Executive Vice President of the Korea Hydrogen Fuel Cell Industry Association, Jung Sung-wook, PD of the Hydrogen Energy Division at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, and Professor Lee Soo-chul of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kyungpook National University exchanged diverse opinions on "Development Plans for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Industry for a Sustainable Future."
The discussion participants agreed on the importance of establishing a full-cycle industrial ecosystem and preparing industrial promotion strategies based on it to revitalize the hydrogen economy.
They also reached a consensus that achieving economies of scale is essential to utilize hydrogen fuel cells in all aspects of daily life, and for this purpose, the Special Act on the Activation of Distributed Energy, scheduled to be enforced in June next year, should be actively utilized according to its intent.
At the corporate exhibition held as a side event that day, Pohang City promoted the hydrogen fuel cell cluster and hydrogen city creation projects, while hydrogen-related companies such as FCI, HAPS, STX Energy Solutions, InnerSensor, and Plantec participated to introduce their corporate visions and hydrogen fuel cell systems and facilities.
Mayor Kang-deok Lee of Pohang delivering the opening address at the 2023 Pohang International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Forum.
Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, "Hydrogen, which is gaining attention as a new energy source, will bring many changes to the daily lives of Pohang citizens. Pohang is the optimal place for fostering the hydrogen industry with differentiated infrastructure such as the R&D-based hydrogen fuel cell certification center and the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power fuel cell power plant. We will focus administrative efforts to utilize these and grow into a hydrogen industry-centered city."
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