Industry Vice Minister Conducts Safety Inspection of Sangam Hydrogen Refueling Station Before Chuseok

Domestic Hydrogen Extractor, First Commercial Application in Korea at Sangam Charging Station

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Jeong Seung-il, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited the Seoul Sangam Hydrogen Charging Station on the 29th to check the progress of capacity expansion and facility improvements.

The CEO of the hydrogen extractor manufacturer, the Safety Management Director of the Korea Gas Safety Corporation, a hydrogen safety agency, and the Climate Change Response Director of Seoul City also attended to inspect the performance and safety management status of the hydrogen extractor and held an on-site meeting.

The Sangam Charging Station is an eco-friendly hydrogen charging station that can utilize not only city gas but also biogas for hydrogen production.

It was initially established in 2010 for research purposes using methane gas generated from the landfill site. It has been open to general users since 2018.

The hydrogen extractor was made by a domestic company and was first applied commercially at the Sangam Charging Station in Korea.

Previously, only about 10 vehicles could be charged per day, but through facility improvements, it can now charge up to about 30 vehicles. It is currently under trial operation.

The Sangam Charging Station is the only 'onsite-type' charging station currently operating that combines hydrogen production facilities and a charging station.

Onsite-type means hydrogen is produced and supplied directly at the charging station. This differs from the conventional method of transporting hydrogen from the production site by tube trailer.

Thanks to this, transportation costs are saved, and hydrogen can be supplied stably even to areas far from hydrogen production sites.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to support 40 hydrogen extraction facilities by 2025 to establish a stable hydrogen supply infrastructure.

Currently, a total of 8 facilities have been established in Gangwon Samcheok and Chuncheon, Gyeongnam Changwon, Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek, Busan, and Daejeon.

An official from the Ministry said, "The government will continue to prioritize safety and promote the transition to a hydrogen economy."

He added, "In particular, hydrogen charging stations will ensure thorough safety management throughout the entire cycle by conducting safety evaluations from design to operation and management stages, precise safety diagnostics, and establishing a dual monitoring system."

At the on-site meeting held by the Ministry and Seoul City, they discussed the current status of hydrogen charging stations in Seoul and agreed to closely cooperate to secure new charging station sites in the future.

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