Designated as Hydrogen Specialized Complexes in Donghae, Samcheok, and Pohang... Development of Liquefied Hydrogen Carriers by 2027

The 7th Hydrogen Economy Committee Meeting Held

Gangwon Donghae and Samcheok, and Gyeongbuk Pohang have been designated as the country's first hydrogen specialized complexes. By 2027, liquefied hydrogen carriers will be built using domestic technology. The enactment of the Hydrogen City Act is also being promoted to advance hydrogen cities.

On the 1st, the government held the 7th Hydrogen Economy Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo at Sebitseom in Seoul, with government ministries and experts from industry, academia, and research institutes attending, discussing key agenda items such as the designation of hydrogen specialized complexes, development of liquefied hydrogen carriers, and promotion of Hydrogen City 2.0.

At the meeting, Gangwon Donghae and Samcheok (liquefied hydrogen storage and transportation) and Gyeongbuk Pohang (fuel cells for power generation), which passed the preliminary feasibility study for the hydrogen cluster project, were designated as the country's first hydrogen specialized complexes. The government plans to support these specialized complexes by providing preferential subsidies (2% additional) when companies from the metropolitan area relocate to the complexes, allowing negotiated contracts for industrial sites, joint research and development (R&D) between demand and supply companies, demonstration and pilot distribution projects for developed products, and workforce training. Additionally, more specialized complexes will be designated in regions with high growth potential in the future.

The government also plans to secure large liquefied hydrogen carrier technology early to establish K-shipbuilding's super-gap competitiveness following liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. Liquefied hydrogen is a future vessel that liquefies gaseous hydrogen at minus 253°C, reducing its volume to 1/800, thereby increasing transportation efficiency by more than ten times, but no large commercial vessels have yet been developed.

Image source=Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The government will develop core source technologies for materials, parts, and equipment such as liquefied hydrogen storage systems, hydrogen-powered propulsion systems, and related key equipment, while constructing demonstration vessels by 2027 to verify technology and safety, aiming to commercialize large carriers by 2040.

Based on the experience accumulated through the hydrogen pilot city project conducted from 2020 to this year, the government will also promote the Hydrogen City 2.0 plan. It will expand eco-friendly hydrogen production facilities within cities and install hydrogen fuel cells in various buildings such as industrial complexes, cultural centers, and welfare facilities. Hydrogen transportation infrastructure such as hydrogen trams and hydrogen trucks will also be expanded to advance existing hydrogen cities. The enactment of the Hydrogen City Act is also being promoted to establish the institutional foundation for hydrogen cities.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said, "Hydrogen is a carbon-free energy source recognized as a major carbon reduction means at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28), and it is a promising future industry with a global market size expected to reach trillions of dollars by 2050. The government will swiftly implement the policies approved by the committee to build an ecosystem for the entire domestic hydrogen industry and concentrate policy capabilities to lead the global hydrogen economy."

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