Hyosung Heavy Industries Achieves World's First Commercialization of Hydrogen Engine Generator

Annual CO2 Reduction of 7,000 Tons Compared to Coal Power
CEO Woo Tae-hee: "We Will Lead the Activation of the Hydrogen Economy"

Hyosung Heavy Industries has succeeded in commercializing the world's first hydrogen engine generator capable of generating power using 100% hydrogen.

Hyosung Heavy Industries announced on the 9th that it has officially started operating a 1MW hydrogen engine generator installed last month at the Ulsan Hyosung Chemical Yongyeon 2 Plant. While 'hydrogen co-firing generators' that use other fuels such as natural gas or coal together have been developed, this is the first time a product capable of generating power solely with hydrogen has been commercialized.

The hydrogen engine generator operating since April at Ulsan Hyosung Chemical Yongyeon Plant by Hyosung Heavy Industries (Provided by Hyosung Heavy Industries)

In July last year, Hyosung Heavy Industries signed a memorandum of understanding with Austrian gas engine specialist company 'INNIO Jenbacher' for a hydrogen engine generator demonstration project and has been accelerating the development of hydrogen engine generators.

This generator is very effective in reducing carbon dioxide because it does not emit carbon during power generation. Compared to coal power generation, operating a 1MW hydrogen engine generator using hydrogen as fuel can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7,000 tons annually. By configuring multiple units in parallel, carbon dioxide emissions can be significantly reduced according to the power output.

In particular, this generator is significant in that it has advanced the government's target of hydrogen-only power generation by about 20 years, aiming for 2050. In terms of safety, it is the only domestic company to have passed safety inspections by the Korea Gas Safety Corporation and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation this year and received approval for commercial operation.

Since the ultimate goal of the clean hydrogen power generation system, which the government will launch in June, is carbon reduction, hydrogen engine generators are expected to lead the revitalization of the clean hydrogen power generation market.

It is also expected to greatly help companies establish sustainable manufacturing environments. According to the Special Act on the Activation of Distributed Energy, which will be enforced from June, it is expected to assist companies in achieving their 'RE100 (100% renewable energy use)' goals. Hydrogen engines can use hydrogen and natural gas indiscriminately as fuel, allowing operation by adjusting the ratio of hydrogen-only or co-firing depending on the price of clean hydrogen.

Woo Tae-hee, CEO of Hyosung Heavy Industries, said, "This is the result of consolidating the technological capabilities and know-how accumulated in the hydrogen business sector, including power equipment, hydrogen charging station construction and operation, and liquefied hydrogen plant construction." He added, "We will actively strive to contribute to building sustainable business environments for power generation companies and other enterprises, and to lead the activation of the hydrogen economy by pioneering the hydrogen engine generator market."