Korea's First Nuclear Hydrogen Plant to Break Ground in October [Digging Energy]

Twelve Institutions and Companies Including Samsung and Doosan Participate
Targeting Completion in March 2027
Synergy Expected with Uljin County's Hydrogen-Specialized Industrial Complex

Aerial view of the nuclear hydrogen plant. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power

Nuclear hydrogen production in South Korea is gaining momentum. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power plans to begin construction of a nuclear hydrogen demonstration plant in Sinam-ri, Ulju County, in October. The plant is expected to start operations in March 2027, two years after construction begins.

The nuclear hydrogen plant to be built will receive electricity directly from the nearby Kori Nuclear Power Plant and Saeul Nuclear Power Plant, and will use electrolysis to produce hydrogen. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power intends to establish a facility with a 10 MW-class low-temperature electrolysis system capable of producing, storing, and shipping more than 4 tons of hydrogen per day. The company stated, "We are currently preparing the necessary permits and approvals for each area, including site and power safety."

However, under current laws and regulations, electricity generated by nuclear power plants cannot be directly supplied to hydrogen production facilities outside the power grid. Therefore, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power plans to apply for a regulatory sandbox (special exemption) for the hydrogen production plant. For future commercialization, it will be necessary to revise laws and regulations such as the electricity market operation rules and Korea Electric Power Corporation's electricity trading terms and conditions, so that nuclear power can be supplied directly to the hydrogen plant through a dedicated line and separate electricity costs can be settled.

The construction of this nuclear hydrogen production plant, the first of its kind in Korea, involves 12 domestic institutions and companies. Samsung C&T, Doosan Enerbility, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction will build the actual plant, while Korea Power Engineering Company and Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute will be responsible for nuclear safety and licensing. In addition, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Mirae Standard Laboratory, Korea Gas Technology Corporation, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Korea National University of Transportation, Korea Power Exchange, and Korea Testing & Research Institute for Chemical Convergence are also participating in the project.

The hydrogen produced at the demonstration plant is expected to be certified as clean hydrogen under the Clean Hydrogen Certification System, which has been in effect since March last year, if its greenhouse gas emissions are 4 kg or less per 1 kg of hydrogen produced. Ahn Jiyeong, a research fellow at the Korea Energy Economics Institute, explained, "Regardless of the power source, if the greenhouse gas emission standard is met, it can be certified as clean hydrogen." Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power plans to cooperate with local governments to ensure that the hydrogen produced at the demonstration plant can be used by nearby industrial consumers.

The nuclear hydrogen plant is expected to create synergy with the hydrogen-specialized industrial complex being promoted by Uljin County.

The plan to establish the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex in Uljin County was exempted from the preliminary feasibility study by the government in June last year. This project will invest 399.6 billion won in a 1.58 million square meter (approximately 480,000 pyeong) area in Jukbyeon-myeon, Uljin County, to produce, store, transport, and utilize 300,000 tons of clean hydrogen annually using electricity and high-temperature heat generated by nearby nuclear power plants.

In the first phase, the project will receive 500 MW of electricity and produce 70,000 tons of hydrogen annually. Uljin County expects that if the nuclear power plant operation rate is increased to 85%, the hydrogen production cost can be reduced to 3,500 won per kilogram.

Aerial view of the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex. Uljin County

Companies such as Samsung E&A, Samsung C&T, GS E&C, Hyundai Engineering, Lotte Chemical, SK Ecoplant, Hyosung Heavy Industries, DL E&C, SK D&D, and BHI are expected to move into the industrial complex.

An official from Uljin County stated, "As carbon emission regulations are being strengthened worldwide, there is growing interest from companies looking to utilize hydrogen," adding, "We plan to establish the industrial complex plan in June, obtain approval and complete land compensation procedures next year, and complete construction by 2030."