'Ammonia-Based Hydrogen Living Utilization Demonstration Site' Opening in Chungju

Establishment in 'Chungbuk Green Hydrogen Industry Regulatory Free Zone'
Applying 'Hydrogen Act' Demonstration Exception

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that on the 24th, it held a completion ceremony for the ammonia-based hydrogen utilization demonstration project site of the ‘Chungbuk Green Hydrogen Industry Regulatory Free Zone’ in Yeongpyeong-ri, Daesowon-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (Megapolis Industrial Complex).

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Chungbuk Green Hydrogen Industry Zone was designated as a regulatory free zone by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2021. Since then, it has been demonstrating ‘high-quality low-cost hydrogen production based on biogas’ and ‘commercial-grade ammonia-based hydrogen production.’ The project aims to lead a carbon-neutral hydrogen economy and establish a foundation for revitalizing the regional economy through the production, storage, and utilization of green hydrogen, a field where business entry was previously blocked due to insufficient related laws.

The ammonia-based hydrogen production and utilization demonstration project site, completed this time, was built on a 1,587.64㎡ scale in Yeongpyeong-ri, Daesowon-myeon, Chungju-si. In addition to government support, a total of 24.8 billion KRW was invested from local government funds and private capital. Under the ‘Hydrogen Act’ demonstration exception, a modular commercial-grade ammonia-based hydrogen production and refining system demonstration facility was established.

The ammonia intended to be used as a hydrogen energy source in the zone has a very high hydrogen content of 17.6 wt% (mass percentage) and can be easily liquefied at about 8 bar under room temperature (25℃), enabling large-capacity hydrogen transportation and storage. Hydrogen produced through this demonstration facility can be utilized in various industrial fields such as existing fuel cells and hydrogen vehicle charging.

Furthermore, although there were no safety standards for ammonia-based hydrogen extraction processes, making commercialization impossible until now, durability, productivity, and safety will be verified through the demonstration of commercial-grade ammonia-based hydrogen production using a modular hydrogen production plant. Based on this, safety standards will be established and provided as a standard model to ammonia-based hydrogen production operators.

At the on-site meeting that day, Lim Jeong-wook, Director of the Startup Venture Innovation Office at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, “The Chungbuk Green Hydrogen Industry Regulatory Free Zone is an important step toward opening the future of clean energy needed in the climate tech era. We will actively cooperate with local governments and related ministries to resolve regulations and fulfill the role of creating local jobs.” He added, “If various hydrogen businesses such as ammonia are commercialized through the regulatory free zone project, it will be an opportunity to expand the domestic hydrogen industry base and accelerate the realization of carbon neutrality.”