Gas Gong, Preparing to Become a Global Hydrogen Specialist Company

Establishment of Gaseous Hydrogen Production Bases in Changwon and Gwangju

Exterior view of the Korea Gas Corporation headquarters located in Dong-gu, Daegu

Korea Gas Corporation is strengthening proactive investments to leap forward as a global hydrogen specialized company across the entire hydrogen industry value chain, including the production, supply, distribution, and utilization of hydrogen, a clean energy source.

According to the energy industry on the 23rd, Gas Corporation plans to establish gaseous hydrogen production bases in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, and Gwangju Metropolitan City by next year to expand hydrogen production infrastructure essential for achieving a hydrogen economy society. Additionally, it will construct liquefied hydrogen production facilities in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi, and Dangjin-si, Chungnam.

To reduce greenhouse gases and meet the international community's carbon neutrality goals, Gas Corporation will also promote a project to import green hydrogen obtained through water electrolysis overseas into Korea. While the government plans to import 1.96 million tons of overseas green hydrogen by 2030, Gas Corporation intends to secure 1 million tons, accounting for more than 50% of the nation's total import volume.

Investments are also being made in liquefied hydrogen technology capable of large-scale hydrogen storage. Since converting hydrogen into liquid reduces its volume to about 1/800th, it allows storing much more hydrogen than in gaseous form. Typically, gaseous hydrogen is transported in tube trailers containing about 300 kg in storage containers at 200 bar pressure, whereas liquefied hydrogen can store and transport up to 3.5 tons, which is ten times more.

To this end, Gas Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in August this year with Matrix Service, a U.S. company, for the development of large liquefied hydrogen tanks and cargo holds. Established in 1984, this company is a global enterprise specializing in the design, procurement, and construction (EPC) of liquefied hydrogen storage facilities. Gas Corporation and Matrix will jointly conduct research and development to convert the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production bases in Pyeongtaek or Dangjin into hydrogen production bases. Upon successful completion, the Pyeongtaek production base, which pioneered Korea's LNG era in 1986, will be transformed into Korea's first hydrogen production base.

In addition, Gas Corporation signed an MOU in May this year with CB&I Storage Solutions, a U.S. company, for the development of liquefied hydrogen storage facility technology. CB&I, with 130 years of operational expertise, develops ultra-high pressure and ultra-low temperature tanks in the storage facility EPC sector. Gas Corporation plans to collaborate with CB&I to scale up onshore liquefied hydrogen storage tanks and develop liquefied hydrogen transport ship technology.

A Gas Corporation official stated, "By developing core technologies in the liquefied hydrogen storage and transportation sectors within the hydrogen value chain, we will enhance competitiveness as a leading hydrogen industry nation and accelerate the creation of a domestic hydrogen industry ecosystem by introducing liquefied hydrogen."

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