SK Energy and Hanwool Nuclear Power Join Hands for Hydrogen Convergence Business Based on Gas Stations

Expansion of Urban Energy Superstations

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] SK Innovation’s petroleum subsidiary SK Energy is partnering with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to promote the expansion of urban energy superstations and eco-friendly hydrogen convergence businesses.

On the 13th, SK Energy announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KHNP at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to collaborate on ▲expanding urban distributed generation energy superstations ▲building hydrogen charging stations and cooperating on hydrogen and electricity production and sales ▲eco-friendly hydrogen convergence projects utilizing waste resources.

An energy superstation refers to future vehicle charging infrastructure that directly produces eco-friendly electricity by installing distributed energy sources such as solar power and fuel cells, as well as electric vehicle chargers, at existing gas stations and LPG charging stations, and uses this electricity for electric vehicle charging.

Seoul Yangcheon-gu SK Gaenari Gas Station exterior.
[Photo by SK Innovation]

The two companies plan to utilize SK Energy’s gas stations, LPG charging stations, Natruck House locations, and idle national and public lands to build complex energy superstations. The concept of energy superstations, which produce renewable energy using existing gas station sites and use it for charging eco-friendly vehicles, is gaining attention as an alternative to improve power self-sufficiency through urban distributed generation, minimize transmission and distribution losses, and establish a stable electric vehicle charging network.

SK Energy has been producing electricity by installing fuel cells at two SK gas stations in Seoul since last year under a government regulatory sandbox demonstration exception. At SK Bakmi Gas Station in Geumcheon-gu and SK Gaenari Gas Station in Yangcheon-gu, 300kW fuel cells have been producing eco-friendly electricity since February and September of last year, respectively. Once related regulations such as the Electricity Business Act are revised, the electricity generated can be directly used for electric vehicle chargers installed at gas stations.

A view of SK Bakmi Gas Station in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by SK Innovation]

Based on this, SK Energy and KHNP will promote the expansion of urban energy superstations in Seoul and explore new business opportunities by applying KHNP’s renewable energy business technology experience to SK Energy’s key customer touchpoints.

Additionally, SK Energy plans to jointly develop with KHNP an on-site hydrogen charging station project based on the ‘Trigen’ fuel cell system, which can simultaneously produce eco-friendly electricity and hydrogen. SK Energy will pilot this at Natruck House locations with high hydrogen commercial vehicle charging demand and gradually expand on-site hydrogen charging stations to highway rest areas and bus garages nationwide.

Trigen is a fuel cell system developed by Doosan Fuel Cell that can simultaneously produce electricity, hydrogen, and heat. SK Energy is promoting the construction of on-site hydrogen charging stations using Trigen in collaboration with Doosan Fuel Cell. On-site refers to a structure where hydrogen produced on-site is used immediately for charging.

Fuel cell installed at SK Gaenari Gas Station in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by SK Energy]

Jang Hojun, Head of SK Energy’s S&P (Solution & Platform) Promotion Team, said, “Through this cooperation, we will accelerate the transformation of existing gas stations into energy superstations prepared for the future eco-friendly vehicle era, and actively collaborate with KHNP to contribute to achieving net zero and revitalizing distributed generation by pioneering new energy industries.”

Jang Pilho, Head of KHNP’s Green Business Division, stated, “To expand energy superstations, KHNP plans to leverage its diverse renewable energy project experience and know-how, actively respond to government policies promoting the hydrogen economy, and work closely with SK Energy to become a reference model for follow-up urban distributed power projects.”

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