Incheon Airport Ushers in the Hydrogen Bus Era with World's First Airport Hydrogen Transportation Base

Hyverse Holds "Completion Ceremony for Airport Hydrogen Transportation Base"
Total Project Cost: 14.3 Billion Won, Capacity to Charge 240 Vehicles Per Day
Daily Travel Distance of 548 km, Significant Environmental Benefits

Incheon International Airport has established the world's first "Hydrogen Transportation Complex Base" that includes a hydrogen charging station, officially initiating the hydrogen transition of airport transportation. This complex base, created through public-private cooperation, serves as a hydrogen mobility infrastructure focused on commercial vehicles and is regarded as a key hub for the expansion of the hydrogen economy in South Korea.

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Hyverse, a subsidiary of SK Innovation E&S, held a completion ceremony for the "Incheon Airport Hydrogen Transportation Complex Base" on January 29 in Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon. The total project cost amounted to 14.3 billion won, with 7 billion won in support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 3 billion won invested by Incheon City, and 4.3 billion won from Hyverse. Hyverse currently operates 21 liquefied hydrogen charging stations nationwide.

The hydrogen transportation complex base, built on a 2,771-square-meter site within the parking area of Incheon Airport's Terminal 2, features a liquefied hydrogen charging station capable of charging 320 kilograms per hour. It can charge up to 240 large hydrogen buses per day, providing infrastructure to meet the high transportation demand for airport shuttles, limousines, and other large-scale transit needs.

Liquefied hydrogen is hydrogen gas cooled to minus 253°C to become a liquid, reducing its volume to about 1/800 of its original state, making it advantageous for large-scale storage and transportation. Compared to gaseous hydrogen, the transportable amount increases significantly, and since high pressure is not required, safety during storage and transportation is also improved.

Incheon Airport is the largest airport transportation hub in the country, with an average daily traffic volume of about 172,000 vehicles. The transition of airport buses to hydrogen, therefore, has a significant impact on carbon reduction and serves as a strong symbol of South Korea's eco-friendly image for international visitors. Currently, 36 out of 68 Incheon Airport shuttle buses are hydrogen-powered, with additional units scheduled for introduction this year. Airport limousines operating to other regions such as Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are also preparing for a transition to hydrogen buses.

Local governments are also accelerating the expansion of hydrogen mobility. Incheon City plans to convert all city buses to hydrogen buses by 2030, while Seoul and Gyeonggi Province intend to expand the introduction of hydrogen buses, focusing on airport buses. Airport buses travel an average of 548 kilometers per day, which is longer than city buses, resulting in a particularly significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions when converted to hydrogen buses.

This complex base is linked to the liquefied hydrogen production facility in Seo-gu, Incheon, establishing a stable hydrogen supply system. IGE, a subsidiary of SK Innovation E&S, completed a liquefied hydrogen plant in May 2024, securing a production capacity of 90 tons per day and approximately 30,000 tons annually.

Jeon Youngjun, Head of New Energy Business at SK Innovation E&S, stated, "The Incheon Airport Hydrogen Transportation Complex Base will become a core hub for supplying fuel to hydrogen buses traveling to and from the airport," adding, "By linking with the liquefied hydrogen production facility, we will build a competitive hydrogen supply infrastructure."

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