Hydrogen Refueling Now Allowed for Forklifts and Ships
Mobile Refueling Stations Also Permitted
Ulsan Demonstration Leads to Regulatory Amendments
Accelerating Commercialization of the Hydrogen Industry
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Ulsan Metropolitan City announced on May 25 that they have verified the safety of hydrogen fuel cell mobility operations and refueling facilities through the demonstration project of the 'Ulsan Hydrogen Green Mobility Regulatory Free Zone.'
As a result, all regulations related to hydrogen mobility commercialization and refueling have been resolved, with the amendment and enforcement of the Enforcement Rules of the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act to expand the scope of hydrogen fuel refueling, and the revision of the notice on mobile hydrogen fuel refueling facilities.
Until now, hydrogen refueling was limited to automobiles, making it impossible to refuel other hydrogen mobility devices such as indoor logistics transport machinery and ships. In addition, mobile refueling for indoor logistics transport machinery, which cannot easily use fixed refueling stations, was also not permitted. This restricted the introduction and utilization of hydrogen mobility other than automobiles and posed challenges to building an industrial ecosystem for various hydrogen-based mobility solutions.
In response, since its designation in December 2019, the Ulsan Free Zone has carried out demonstration projects for hydrogen fuel cell indoor logistics transport machinery such as forklifts and unmanned transport vehicles, as well as hydrogen ships. Through these projects, the efficiency and safety of hydrogen mobility operations and hydrogen fuel refueling facilities were verified.
Based on the demonstration results, the regulatory authorities pursued amendments to laws and notices to facilitate the use of hydrogen mobility. In November last year, the Enforcement Rules of the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act were amended to expand the scope of refueling to means of transportation other than automobiles, and this has been in effect since this month. In addition, the notice for mobile hydrogen fuel refueling was revised, establishing a legal foundation for the use of hydrogen fuel in various types of mobility.
The regulatory improvements achieved through the Ulsan Free Zone's demonstration projects are expected to accelerate the commercialization of new technologies related to hydrogen mobility, revitalize the hydrogen industry, and have a positive impact on the overall hydrogen sector, including expanding opportunities to enter the global market.
Lee Gwi-hyeon, Director of the Special Zone Innovation Planning Division at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "We will continue to support the demonstration and commercialization of innovative projects through regulatory free zones, and will steadily expand the foundation for regional growth."
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