Hanwha Solutions Lays Foundation for Green Hydrogen Production

[Asia Economy Reporter So-yeon Park] Hanwha Solutions is establishing a green hydrogen production complex based on renewable energy. By securing green hydrogen technology that converts electricity generated from wind power into hydrogen, the company is investing in building a domestic hydrogen ecosystem.

On the 3rd, Hanwha Solutions announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gangwon Province and Korea Gas Technology Corporation to "strengthen the competitiveness of the hydrogen industry ecosystem in Gangwon Province." The signing ceremony held at Sol Beach Resort in Samcheok City, Gangwon Province, was attended by Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province, Ko Young-tae, President of Korea Gas Technology Corporation, and Lee Gu-young, CEO of Hanwha Solutions Chemical Division.

This MOU includes the construction of an electrolyzer facility and a hydrogen charging station on a 1,488㎡ (approximately 450 pyeong) site in Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province, capable of producing 290 tons of green hydrogen annually. The electrolyzer method is an electrochemical technology that decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen by passing electricity through it. It is a core technology connecting renewable energy, which produces surplus electricity due to fluctuating power generation, with the hydrogen ecosystem.

The green hydrogen production complex, which will be built with a total investment of 30 billion KRW aiming for commercial operation from the second half of 2022, is expected to operate for the next 15 years. Additionally, plans to enhance synergy by linking with the green hydrogen liquefaction facility promoted by Gangwon Province will be reviewed.

Public-Private-Government Cooperation: 30 Billion KRW Investment to Produce 290 Tons of Hydrogen Annually

The 290 tons of green hydrogen produced annually using electricity supplied from wind power plants in Gangwon Province will be entirely used for transportation through hydrogen charging stations, including hydrogen buses, hydrogen trucks, and hydrogen passenger cars. The 290 tons correspond to the amount needed to charge 130 Hyundai Motor Company's hydrogen electric vehicles, 'Nexo,' daily for one year.

In this project carried out through cooperation among the public, private, and government sectors, Korea Gas Technology Corporation will be responsible for overall construction and maintenance of production facilities, Gangwon Province will provide the site and wind power electricity, and Hanwha Solutions will build the green hydrogen production facilities.

Lee Gu-young, CEO of Hanwha Solutions, said, "Through this project, we will verify a green hydrogen business model based on renewable energy and contribute to revitalizing the regional economy of Gangwon Province and the domestic hydrogen ecosystem."

Hanwha Accelerates Development of Electrolyzer Technology for Green Hydrogen Production

Through this project, Hanwha Solutions plans to secure infrastructure to test P2G (Power to Gas) electrolyzer technology that converts renewable energy into hydrogen and collect operational data to strengthen its green hydrogen production technology capabilities.

The Chemical Division of Hanwha Solutions has already invested about 30 billion KRW to develop competitive electrolyzer technology for green hydrogen production. Collaborating with KAIST and Yonsei University, which possess electrolyzer technology, as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the United States, the company is developing optimized core materials for electrolyzers.

Hanwha Solutions also plans to launch demonstration projects for green hydrogen production overseas. The Q CELLS division will supply electricity through solar power, the Chemical Division will produce green hydrogen via electrolysis, and the Advanced Materials Division will concretize a business model that stores hydrogen in storage tanks developed by the division.

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