Naju-si Attracts 20MW-Class Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Plant to Innovation Industrial Complex

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] A 20MW-class 'hydrogen fuel cell power plant,' spotlighted as an eco-friendly renewable energy source, will be established in the Innovation Industrial Complex in Naju-si, Jeollanam-do.

Naju-si (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 13th that it signed an 'Investment Agreement for Fuel Cell Power Generation Project' with IT Power Naju Fuel Cell Power Plant (CEO Shin Yang-woo) in the mayor's office at city hall.

Fuel cell power generation refers to a method of generating electricity by chemically combining hydrogen and oxygen, using electricity to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen in reverse.

Also, since it directly produces electricity through an electrochemical method, it is gaining attention as a renewable energy source that emits no environmental pollutants from the power generation stage to electricity production.

According to the agreement, IT Power Naju Fuel Cell Power Plant Co., Ltd. will promote the construction of a 20MW-class fuel cell power generation facility on an 8,222㎡ site in the Innovation Industrial Complex.

The total investment amount is approximately 107 billion KRW, with construction starting in August and completion planned by February 2022.

Once the 20MW-class power plant operates, it will produce 161,345 MWh of electricity annually.

The city will begin various administrative supports, including permits required for the construction of the fuel cell power plant.

Meanwhile, KEPCO KPS, a joint investor in the power plant construction project, will oversee design, procurement, and construction (EPC).

Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd. will secure renewable energy certificates (REC) and handle operation and maintenance (O&M), while Neomaru Co., Ltd. will jointly carry out project development and EPC.

The city expects that about 8,400 construction workers and 100 operational personnel will be needed during the approximately two-year construction period and the subsequent 20 years of power plant operation, anticipating job creation for local residents.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, "The establishment of the hydrogen fuel cell power plant in the Innovation Industrial Complex will serve as a new catalyst for revitalizing the complex and regional development by linking with the large-capacity distributed power MVDC demonstration project, a core project of the Jeonnam Energy New Industry Regulatory Free Zone," adding, "We will do our best to provide administrative support for the successful construction of the power plant."

Meanwhile, the Innovation Industrial Complex was designated last November as the '2nd Regulatory Free Zone,' where innovative technologies can be researched, tested, and commercialized without regulations. It is promoting the construction of demonstration infrastructure for 'Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC)' aiming for large-capacity distributed power connection worth a total of 39 billion KRW.

So far, the city has signed investment agreements with 177 companies totaling 1.108 trillion KRW, of which 125 companies have realized investments, achieving a sales rate of 75%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.