Completion of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's First Independent Project 'Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Plant' in Pohang

Pohang City's first hydrogen fuel cell power plant was completed on the 10th at the Pohang Blue Valley National Industrial Complex, covering an area of 9,917㎡ (approximately 3,000 pyeong).

At the completion ceremony, about 100 people attended to celebrate the power plant's completion, including Hwang Ju-ho, president of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the host and the organization responsible for the construction and operation of the power plant; Lee Kang-deok, mayor of Pohang; Baek In-gyu, chairman of the Pohang City Council; Lee Dal-hee, deputy governor for economic affairs of Gyeongbuk Province; Park Yong-seon, vice chairman of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council; city and provincial council members; Kwak Won-byeong, CEO of Yeongnam Energy Service; representatives from partner companies such as Doosan Fuel Cell; and residents of Sangjeong-ri, Donghae-myeon.

On this day, Pohang City awarded plaques of appreciation and commendation to two Yeongnam Energy Service officials who contributed to realizing carbon neutrality and improving energy welfare for residents in energy blind spots through attracting the fuel cell power plant, as well as to the heads of Sangjeong 1 and 2 villages.

The 19.8 MW-class Pohang hydrogen fuel cell power plant is significant as it is the first hydrogen fuel cell power plant to begin commercial operation in Pohang City and the first fuel cell power plant fully funded (approximately 96 billion KRW) and directly operated by KHNP.

The annual electricity production of the Pohang hydrogen fuel cell power plant is about 160 million kWh, which is enough to supply approximately 33,000 households for one year.

The Pohang hydrogen fuel cell power plant will stably supply electricity to the Blue Valley National Industrial Complex, which has high electricity demand. Based on this, KHNP, together with Doosan Fuel Cell and Pohang Technopark, will establish fuel cell operation and maintenance (O&M) technology within the Pohang hydrogen fuel cell cluster.

Additionally, Yeongnam Energy Service will supply city gas to the power plant and newly provide city gas to about 140 households in the nearby Sangjeong 1-ri and Sangjeong 2-ri of Donghae-myeon, where city gas was previously unavailable, thereby contributing to the welfare improvement of residents in energy-vulnerable areas.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “As climate change issues are emerging globally, we must accelerate the creation of a Pohang-type RE100 industrial complex for decarbonizing industrial complexes. I thank KHNP, partner companies, and residents who enrich lives with eco-friendly energy, and I will continue to work with KHNP to open an era of eco-friendly hydrogen energy.”

KHNP’s Pohang fuel cell power project was actively promoted after signing the “Pohang Blue Valley Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Project Business Agreement” in 2021 among five organizations including Pohang City and KHNP. Construction began in November 2022, and after starting trial operations in June last year, it was completed in just 1 year and 2 months since groundbreaking.

Bird's-eye view of Pohang Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Plant.

원본보기 아이콘

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.