Changwon Special City, New Hydrogen Infrastructure to Be Operational

Starting in May, Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam will produce eco-friendly hydrogen closest to blue hydrogen by capturing carbon dioxide generated during hydrogen production using natural gas as fuel, the first of its kind in Korea.

The largest hydrogen bus charging station in Korea, capable of charging 15 hydrogen buses per hour, will be operated, further strengthening the capabilities of Changwon Special City, the nation's leading hydrogen city.

On the 27th, the city held a completion ceremony for the "Korea's first carbon dioxide capture and utilization facility linked to hydrogen production" established within the Seongju-dong Hydrogen Energy Circulation System Demonstration Complex and the "Cohygen hydrogen bus charging station" built at the Seongju Bus Garage.

'Korea's First Domestic Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilization Facility Linked to Hydrogen Production' Completion Ceremony. [Image provided by Changwon Special City]

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Since being selected as the government's "hydrogen bus pilot city" in November 2018, the city has been charging hydrogen passenger cars and hydrogen buses at the Seongju Hydrogen Charging Station. To ensure stable hydrogen supply in preparation for the increase in hydrogen vehicles, the city completed Korea's first small-scale hydrogen production base in April 2021, producing one ton of hydrogen per day from natural gas to support hydrogen vehicle charging.

However, due to the performance limitations of the charging system at the Seongju Hydrogen Charging Station, originally designed for hydrogen passenger cars, rapid charging of hydrogen buses faced constraints. Additionally, concerns about carbon dioxide emissions generated during hydrogen production from natural gas led the city to seek solutions for eco-friendly hydrogen production and improved hydrogen bus charging. As a result, with support from the Ministry of Environment, the city pursued the construction of a carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU) facility at the hydrogen production base and the establishment of Korea's largest hydrogen charging station at the Seongju Bus Garage through Cohygen, a special purpose corporation (SPC) dedicated to hydrogen commercial vehicle charging infrastructure.

The newly unveiled "Korea's first CCU facility linked to hydrogen production" is a domestically produced facility made by a Korean company using Korean technology. It captures about 8 tons of carbon dioxide generated when producing one ton of hydrogen from natural gas at the existing hydrogen production base, storing and supplying it in a liquefied state. The captured carbon dioxide will be used for various purposes such as adjusting the pH of raw water at water purification plants, carbon dioxide welding and fire extinguisher raw materials, dry ice and carbonated beverage ingredients, and raw materials for polycarbonate and polyurethane.

Korea's first carbon dioxide capture and utilization facility linked to hydrogen production. [Image provided by Changwon Special City]

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Through this, Korea's blue hydrogen production model and a hydrogen value chain business model linked with carbon dioxide utilization will be introduced for the first time in the country in Changwon.

Additionally, the Cohygen hydrogen bus charging station built at the Seongju Bus Garage is a large-capacity, high-performance charging station capable of charging 300 kg of hydrogen per hour (enough for 15 hydrogen buses). The core equipment, the hydrogen compressor, was manufactured and supplied by a local hydrogen company, establishing a top-tier hydrogen charging system in Korea through the capabilities of domestic companies.

Key features include the installation of three chargers, allowing three hydrogen buses to be charged simultaneously. Notably, one of the three chargers is equipped with a self-charging system that enables hydrogen bus drivers to charge hydrogen themselves, greatly enhancing the convenience of hydrogen bus charging.

Completion of the largest hydrogen bus charging station in Korea.
[Image provided by Changwon Special City]

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Mayor Hong Nampyo stated, "Although we are recognized domestically and internationally as a representative hydrogen city of Korea, to truly become a hydrogen city, we are proud to introduce Korea's first domestically produced CCU facility made with domestic technology and the largest high-performance charging station with core equipment manufactured by local companies."

He added, "Especially when the operation of the CCU facility and the Cohygen hydrogen bus charging station introduced today are linked, the city will be the first in Korea to operate hydrogen buses charged with blue hydrogen. We will do our best to lead the eco-friendly hydrogen mobility value chain that the government aims for."

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