KOREAN NET

The world's largest liquefied hydrogen plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons of the substance on May 8 began operations in the western part of Incheon. (SK E&S)

By Park Hye Ri

The world's largest liquefied hydrogen plant on May 8 began full-scale operations in Incheon, a development expected to accelerate the domestic hydrogen economy including the supply of hydrogen-powered buses.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and domestic energy giant SK E&S said they held a ceremony for the plant's completion at the headquarters of the company's subsidary IGE Inc. in the port city's Seo-gu District.

Built by SK E&S with an investment of KRW 700 billion, the facility can produce up to 30,000 tons of liquefied hydrogen per year, a volume sufficient to charge about 5,000 hydrogen-powered buses.

The fuel is made by cooling hydrogen gas, which is in gaseous form at room temperature, to a cryogenic temperature of minus 253 degrees Celsius. Only nine countries -- the U.S., Canada, France, the Netherlands, Germany, India, China, Japan and Korea -- possess this highly advanced technology.

Liquefied hydrogen is 800 times denser than gaseous hydrogen, thus the former's transportation efficiency is over 10-fold higher and can help spread hydrogen-powered modes of transportation like cars and buses. With ultra-high purity of 99.9999%, it is also used in high-tech industries needing large amounts of pure hydrogen such as semiconductors and defense.

By 2026, SK E&S will build 40 hydrogen filling stations nationwide and form a related distribution network.

The government will also continue to stimulate the liquid hydrogen ecosystem by developing safety standards for the liquid hydrogen lifecycle and backing related core technology and research and development for subcontractors.

"The liquefied hydrogen plant will be a game changer to lead a new leap forward by the domestic hydrogen economy," Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Dukgeun said. "This plant is an example of cooperation between government deregulation and private investment, and going forward, both the public and private sectors as one team plan to keep leading the hydrogen economy."

This is an aerial view of the world's largest liquefied hydrogen plant in Incheon, which began operations on May 8. (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)

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