S. Korea to create massive hydrogen ecosystem

South Korea vowed to significantly boost clean hydrogen production and use by securing advanced technologies and building infrastructures.

Under the comprehensive roadmap, the government will increase the number of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in South Korea from 211 units to 30,000 by 2030 and build 70 liquid hydrogen fueling stations across the country, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Buyers of hydrogen buses and trucks will receive more subsidies and the government will use hydrogen-powered police buses and other public use vehicles.

It also seeks to raise the ratio of blue and green hydrogen from zero to 2.1 percent in 2030 and 7.1 percent by 2036.

Currently, the country mostly depends on fossil fuel-based grey hydrogen.

The measures are expected to reduce around 28 million tons of greenhouse gases, create 98,000 jobs and generate an economic impact worth 47.1 trillion won by 2030.

South Korea’s goal is to achieve zero-emission and become the world’s No. 1 hydrogen industry powerhouse.

The government also vowed efforts to secure key advanced technologies in the fuel cell, hydrogen turbine, and other major fields of the sector and to nurture 600 hydrogen-specialized firms by 2030.

The roadmap also called for enhancing exports of five promising items and systems — hydrogen mobility, fuel cell, electrolysis system, liquid hydrogen carriers, and hydrogen charging stations — by extending customized supports and pushing for deregulation, it added.