Safety Controversy → Public-Private Cooperation Achievement... Completion of Incheon Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Plant

Annual Production of 320 Million kWh Electricity, Supply to 87,000 Households

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun is holding a press conference regarding the public-private agreement on the Dong-gu hydrogen fuel cell power plant. 2019.11.18 [Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The hydrogen fuel cell power plant in Dong-gu, Incheon, which was nearly canceled due to safety concerns, was completed and officially began operation on the 2nd.

On the 2nd, Incheon City held a completion ceremony for the Incheon Fuel Cell Power Plant in Songnim-dong, Dong-gu, within the general industrial area, attended by Mayor Park Namchun, Deputy Minister Park Jinkyu of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Assemblymen Heo Jongsik and Lee Seongman, Jung Jaehoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and local residents.

The power plant has a facility capacity of 39.6 MW, producing electricity sufficient for about 87,000 households annually (320 million kWh) and heat for about 26,000 households (164,000 Gcal), which will be supplied to large residential areas around Dong-gu, Incheon.

Incheon Fuel Cell Co., Ltd., jointly invested by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (60%), Samchully, and Doosan Construction (each 20%), constructed the power plant on a 2,700-pyeong site over 18 months starting from November 2019, with a total project cost of 254.3 billion KRW.

The Dong-gu hydrogen fuel cell power plant project was initiated in June 2017 when Incheon City, Dong-gu, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan, Samchully, and Incheon Comprehensive Energy Co., Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding.

Although the building permit was initially obtained from Dong-gu Office in December 2018, construction was halted for about 10 months starting January 2019 due to opposition from nearby residents concerned about safety.

Subsequently, Incheon City formed a consultative body by bringing together the residents' committee, Dong-gu Office, and the project operators, and through communication and negotiation, a breakthrough was achieved in November 2019, leading to a dramatic public-private agreement and resumption of construction.

Mayor Park Namchun of Incheon stated, "The completion of the Incheon Fuel Cell Power Plant is a valuable result of public-private cooperation where the city, Dong-gu Office, project operators, and local residents continuously communicated and worked together," adding, "I hope this marks the signal for the beginning of Incheon's eco-friendly hydrogen energy era."

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