New hydrogen production plant at Pyeongtaek launched in South Korea

South Korea has launched a 2,555 t/yr hydrogen production plant in Pyeongtaek, its first such facility in a metropolitan area, according to the country’s industry and trade ministry.

The Pyeongtaek hydrogen plant is the country’s second such facility, following the launch of the Changwon production plant in Gyeongsangnam-do that has been operating since the end of last year, although its capacity details are unclear.

The facility can provide fuel for up to 430,000 hydrogen cars/yr.

The Pyeongtaek plant will start production from August after a test run, with it expected to reduce hydrogen distribution prices and strengthen the domestic industry’s technological competitiveness.

There are currently 33 operational hydrogen refuelling stations in the metropolitan area, with Motie expecting hydrogen transportation costs to fall by about 50pc when these stations switch to getting supply from the Pyeongtaek plant rather than from more remote suppliers such as the Daesan petrochemical complex.