[Science World] Future-Oriented Power Generation Technology 'Yeonryeojunji' Must Be Noticed

The method of generating electricity, or "power generation," is primarily determined by the type of fuel used. Each method, such as coal-fired power generation, gas turbine power generation, and nuclear power generation, has its own advantages and disadvantages. Thermal power generation is advantageous for producing large amounts of electricity at a low cost consistently, but it is difficult to avoid environmental pollution such as fine dust emissions. Gas turbine power generation is expensive, and nuclear power generation has the problem of waste disposal. Solar power requires a large area and cannot generate electricity when the sun is not visible. Wind power requires wind and produces noise. Is it impossible to find an all-weather power generation method that can provide electricity reliably while minimizing environmental pollution?

Although a perfect technology does not exist, there is an optimal alternative: the "fuel cell (FC)." It is a device that instantly converts fuels such as hydrogen, alcohol, and natural gas into electricity through chemical reactions. Recently, with the advent of the hydrogen era, when people talk about fuel cells, they often think of hydrogen fuel cells (HFC). Fuel cells produce only heat and electricity through chemical reactions, so they emit almost no pollutants. Among domestic fuel cell power generation systems, the largest scale is the "Shin Incheon Bitdream Power Plant" built by Korea Southern Power, with a capacity of 80 MW.

Fuel cells are popular for transportation. They are receiving great attention as the future power system for large vehicles such as trucks. Also, operating a single ultra-large ship requires hundreds of tons of fuel daily. Replacing this with a hydrogen fuel cell + electric propulsion engine can effectively transform it into a completely eco-friendly ship. There is also a growing movement to introduce fuel cells into aircraft.

The global fuel cell market, which was around 2.2 trillion won in 2018, is reported to grow at an average annual rate of 30%, reaching about 50 trillion won by 2030. During this period, it is necessary for the government as well as various companies to continuously secure related technologies and respond to the market. The future belongs to those who prepare.

Jeon Seung-min, Science and Technology Specialist Writer

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