International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy

• 수소경제 활성화 로드맵 (Jan 2019)

• Hydrogen Economy Roadmap (Jan 2019)

Updated November 2024

• (Nov 2024) The first bidding process was closed for the world’s first clean hydrogen power market, or the clean hydrogen section of Clean Hydrogen Portfolio Standard (CHPS). Power generation companies submitted their bids for 15-year contracts with Korea Electric Power Corporation, which is due to procure 6.5TWh of clean hydrogen electricity through those long-term contracts this year. In order to secure clean hydrogen, mostly in the form of ammonia from abroad, they have consulted with suppliers that are willing to produce hydrogen with GHG emissions equal to or less than 4kgCO2eq/kgH2 (well-to-gate). Winners are to be announced by Korea Power Exchange and they are required to start producing clean hydrogen electricity by 2028 at the latest.

• (Nov 2024) Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) designated two hydrogen-specialized complexes. They are expected to accommodate hydrogen-related companies to form clusters and the government will support them as leaders to accelerate the growth of hydrogen industry eco-system in Korea. Governmental supports may include additional subsidy for eligible companies, incentives on joint R&D projects, etc. The two first ever complexes are Donghae-Samchuk for liquid hydrogen transport and storage, and Pohang for fuel cells for power generation. In total, 510 billion KRW (365 million USD) are to be invested in them (’24 – ’28).

Updated November 2024

• (May 2024) MOTIE announced that ten hydrogen R&D projects would receive government funding of 24.3 billion KRW (17.5 million USD). Research area of the projects includes AEM electrolyzer system, HRS key component upgrades and mobile fuel cell power generation for civilian and military use. The ministry will select additional eight projects eligible for 23.4 billion KRW (16.8 million USD) in the second half of this year. The annual budget this year is 47.8 billion KRW (34.3 million USD).

• (May 2024) The world’s largest hydrogen liquefaction plant started commercial Operation in the city of Incheon. Incheon Liquid Hydrogen Plant has annual capacity of 30,000 tons of liquid hydrogen, which would be able to refuel 5,000 FC buses. SK E&S invested 700 billion KRW (500 million USD) in it to expand its liquid H2 refueling station network to 40 locations by 2026. Liquid hydrogen supply chain is essential for Korea’s rapid growing FC bus fleet. National and local governments have plans to deploy more than 20 thousand FC buses by 2030

Updated March 2024

• (December 2023) The government vowed to catalyse deployment of commercial FCEVs. With targets of 21,200 FC busses, 280 liquid hydrogen refueling pumps by 2030, financial supports or tax benefits will be introduced to purchase of forklifts and garbage trucks, fuel cell replacement in commercial FCEVs, etc.

• (December 2023) Hydrogen Storage/Transport Industry Cluster is to be established in the State of Gangwon. The national government plans to fund it with a total of USD240m in total (5 years starting from 2024). It is expected to accommodate infrastructure for testing labs, demonstration projects, etc. of hydrogen storage and transport.

• (January 2024) The first hydrogen liquefaction plant in Korea went operational in the city of Changwon. It has capacity of 5ton/day to supply nearby research labs, companies and HRS. Doosan Enerbility, Province of Kyoungnam and the city government jointly invested USD72m in it.

Updated March 2024

No update

Updated March 2024

No update

Updated March 2024

No update

Ministry of Knowledge EconomyKorean Hydrogen and New Energy Society

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Hydrogen Roadmap Korea Report (PDF 7MB)

Hydrogen Economy Roadmap of Korea (PDF 3.7MB)

Hydrogen Economy Roadmap of Korea Bullets (PDF 1.9MB)

Korean Statement (PDF); 40th Steering Committee Meeting; Washington DC, USA; 4-5 October 2023

Korean Statement (PDF); 35th Steering Committee Meeting; Virtual, 22 - 25 June 2021

Korean Statement (PDF); 34th Steering Committee Meeting; Virtual, 1 - 4 December 2020

Korean Statement (PDF); 33nd Steering Committee Meeting; Virtual, 16 - 19 June 2020

Korean Statement (PDF); 32nd Steering Committee Meeting; Seoul, Republic of Korea; 21 - 25 October 2019

Korean Statement (PDF); 31st Steering Committee Meeting; Vienna, Austria; 9 - 12 April 2019

Korean Statement (PDF); 27th Steering Committee Meeting; Hamburg, Germany; 25 - 28 April 2017

Korean Statement (PDF 261KB); 25th Steering Committee Meeting; Berkeley, CA, USA; 17 - 20 May 2016

Korean Statement (PDF); 23rd Steering Committee Meeting; Wuhan, China; 27-28 May 2015

Korean Statement (PDF 3.53MB); 22nd Steering Committee Meeting; Rome, Italy; 2-3 December 2014

Korean Statement (PDF 1.55MB); 21st Steering Committee Meeting; Oslo, Norway; 19-21 May 2014

Korean Statement (PDF 929KB); 20th Steering Committee Meeting; City of Fukuoka, Japan; 20-21 November 2013

Korean Statement (PDF 1.23MB); 19th Steering Committee Meeting; London, United Kingdom; 23-24 May 2013

Korean Statement (PDF 1.79MB); 18th Steering Committee Meeting; Seville, Spain; 14 November 2012

Korean Statement (PDF 1.36MB); 17th Steering Committee Meeting; Cape Town, South Africa; 3-4 May 2012

Korean Statement (PDF 1.54MB); 15th Steering Committee Meeting; Vancouver, Canada; May 2011

Korean Statement (PDF 2.86MB); ILC/SC Joint Meeting; Washington, DC; 1-3 December 2009

Korean Statement (PDF 564KB); Steering Committee Meeting; Sao Paulo, Brazil; 24-25 April 2007

Korean Statement (PDF 624KB); Implementation-Liaison Committee Meeting; Oxford, England; 30 January - 1 February 2007

Korean Statement (PDF 1.26MB); Steering Committee Meeting; Kyoto, Japan; 14 September 2005

Korean Statement (PDF 205KB); Steering Committee Meeting; Paris, France; 26-28 January 2005

Korean Statement (PDF 322KB); Steering Committee Meeting; Beijing, China; 26-28 May 2004

Ministerial Statement; IPHE Inaugural Ministerial Meeting; Washington, D.C.; 20 Nov 2003

Contact: Sung Moon JUNG | jsmoony@energy.or.kr

Ho-Mu Lee - hmlee@keei.re.kr