Hyosung and Linde Join Hands for Carbon Neutrality... Groundbreaking of World's Largest Liquid Hydrogen Plant

2023 Production of 13,000 Tons
Plan to Build Liquefied Hydrogen Refueling Station
Hyosung to Invest 1 Trillion KRW in R&D Funds
Planning to Double Facilities of New Factory

Hyosung Heavy Industries' hydrogen charging station located in Gyeongdong, Ulsan. Photo by Hyosung

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Hyosung Heavy Industries and Linde held a groundbreaking ceremony on the 21st at the Ulsan Hyosung Chemical Plant for the world's largest single-scale liquefied hydrogen plant. Hyosung is the leading domestic hydrogen charging system operator, while Linde is a global gas and chemical company with advanced technology in liquefied hydrogen production and transportation systems.

Hyosung and Linde previously signed an agreement last year covering all areas of liquefied hydrogen production, transportation, and sales, and established a joint venture to discuss specific business plans. Linde Hydrogen Energy will handle liquefied hydrogen production, and Hyosung Hydrogen will manage sales. The hydrogen plants operated by the two companies, starting from May 2023, will produce 13,000 tons annually, making it the world's largest single plant by scale. Currently, the world's largest hydrogen plant has an annual capacity of 10,000 tons.

Alongside this, Hyosung plans to invest 1 trillion won over five years in new facility investments and research and development (R&D) to increase liquefied hydrogen production capacity to a total of 39,000 tons. The plan includes building an additional plant about twice the size of the new one. It has not yet been decided whether the joint venture with Linde will continue.

The two companies also plan to build the first liquefied hydrogen charging station in Korea. Hyosung built the country's first hydrogen charging station at Hyundai Motor's Namyang Research Center in 2008 and has since installed charging systems at 18 locations nationwide, including the National Assembly and the Government Complex Sejong, holding a 35% domestic market share, ranking first. Until now, hydrogen charging stations have been based on gaseous hydrogen, but liquefied hydrogen is considered more efficient for storage and transportation.

Liquefying gaseous hydrogen reduces its volume to 1/800, and can shorten hydrogen station refueling times by more than three times. Securing infrastructure such as charging stations is important to expand transportation uses, and the industry expects this liquefaction method to be necessary. While building the first liquefied hydrogen charging station in Ulsan, plans are in place to expand to 30 stations in the future.

Meanwhile, the event was attended by Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon (photo), Linde Korea Chairman Sung Baek-seok, Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Park Jin-gyu, and Hyosung Vice Chairmen Cho Hyun-sang and Lee Sang-woon. The two companies announced a vision titled "Building a Carbon-Neutral Korea through Hydrogen Application Technology" while commencing construction. They aim to develop and refine technologies that increase hydrogen utilization as a new energy source to reduce carbon emissions both in industry and daily life.

Hyosung plans to localize liquefied hydrogen charging technology and equipment applying Linde's proprietary technology by 2024, and develop blue and green hydrogen extraction technologies that do not emit carbon dioxide. They also aim to develop various application technologies including carbon dioxide capture and reuse, contributing to a 10% reduction in domestic carbon dioxide emissions. Hyosung Advanced Materials will invest 1 trillion won by 2028 to increase carbon fiber production, a key material for hydrogen fuel tanks, to 24,000 tons annually.

Chairman Cho said, "Hydrogen energy is the foundation of an energy revolution that will change humanity's future. We will continue to invest and lead the paradigm shift to hydrogen energy," adding, "It is a moving moment to open a new chapter toward a century of Hyosung in Ulsan, where Hyosung's history began."

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