Demonstration of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilization Technologies in Yeosu, Seosan, Gangneung-Samcheok, Pohang, and Boryeong

Ministry of Science and ICT Selects 5 Sites for CCU Mega Project
Expectations for Converting Carbon Dioxide into Useful Substances

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 22nd that it has selected ▲Yeosu in Jeollanam-do, ▲Seosan in Chungcheongnam-do, ▲Gangneung and Samcheok in Gangwon-do, ▲Pohang in Gyeongsangbuk-do, and ▲Boryeong in Chungcheongnam-do as sites for the 'CCU Mega Project,' which converts captured carbon dioxide into useful substances for carbon neutrality.

Based on the sites and demonstration contents selected through a public contest, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to supplement and revise research and development tasks and conduct a preliminary feasibility study to launch the full-scale project starting in 2026.

CCU (Carbon Capture and Utilization) technology captures carbon dioxide emitted from industrial and power generation sectors and converts it into useful substances such as methanol and sustainable aviation fuel. This technology is recognized as a key technology for achieving carbon neutrality in several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects that by 2070, 15% of the global carbon dioxide reduction will be achieved through CCU technology.

The CCU Mega Project, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, is a project that supports the full-cycle demonstration of carbon dioxide capture and utilization from CO2 supply to product application. Until now, CCU has been developed and demonstrated at the laboratory scale, but this project aims to link CCU with high CO2-emitting industries for large-scale research and development demonstrations, ultimately creating successful commercialization cases based on CCU technology.

Among the selected sites, in Yeosu, a demonstration will be conducted near the GS Caltex 2nd plant to convert carbon dioxide from refining and petrochemical processes into basic hydrocarbons and polyols.

In Seosan, a demonstration of technology to directly hydrogenate carbon dioxide from petrochemical processes into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and eco-friendly naphtha will be conducted at the Hanwha Total Energies site.

In Gangneung and Samcheok, research will be conducted to convert carbon dioxide emitted from cement plants such as Halla Cement, Sampyo Cement, and Korea East-West Power into calcium carbonate or potassium chloride.

In Pohang, technology to convert carbon dioxide emitted from Pohang Steelworks processes into low-carbon methanol or synthetic gas will be demonstrated. In Boryeong, a demonstration study to convert carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel will be conducted at the Korea Midland Power coal yard site.

Lee Chang-yoon, 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “Despite the importance of CCU technology in achieving carbon neutrality, commercialization models have been lacking due to low economic feasibility.” He added, “Through a large-scale public-private joint CCU demonstration project, we expect to create successful cases to overcome initial economic limitations and accelerate the private sector’s diffusion of the technology.”