SK Energy, Doosan partner to build hybrid charging stations

SK Energy Co. and Doosan Fuel Cell Inc. have come together to set up hybrid charging stations in South Korea. Their goal is to produce one ton of hydrogen from onsite power generation per day to be able to charge at least 200 hydrogen cars and 30 hydrogen trucks daily.

SK Energy confirmed on Tuesday, Nov. 22, that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Doosan Fuel Cell to cooperate in the said project. As stated in the agreement, they will jointly build and operate hybrid power stations, and the charging stations will generate hydrogen energy to offer an eco-friendly way of charging vehicles.

According to The Korea Economic Daily, the actual signing of the MOU took place on Monday, Nov. 21. Under the contract, it was agreed that SK Group’s energy arm would be providing high-purity hydrogen generation facilities and Doosan Fuel Cell would be the supplier and operator of its Tri-gen system that produces electricity and hydrogen to charge both electric and hydrogen vehicles.

The companies are expected to complete the checking and certification of the facilities in the first half of 2023. This needs to be done to make sure that it is capable of producing and charging 99.99% high-purity hydrogen. Once the process is finished, they will now build the onsite energy stations in strategic locations.

The stations will also be able to charge electric vehicles using the electric power generated from Doosan Fuel Cell’s Tri-gen system. There are also plans to increase the number of hydrogen charging stations in the country by 2026.

“SK Energy is speeding up its platform transformation to reinforce green energy solutions and ecofriendly mobility service at the contact points with the customers, such as the Netruck House, gas stations, charging stations, etc.,” Kang Dong Soo, SK Energy Solution and Platform Business unit’s head, said in a press release.

He added, “Through cooperative development of technologies like Tri-gen and high-purity hydrogen generation, we hope to supply green energy to the customers in optimal ways and vitalize the hydrogen economy by reducing energy loss during transmission and distribution and cutting hydrogen supply cost.”

Lee Seung Jun, Doosan Fuel Cell’s head of sales unit, also commented, “With this project at the cornerstone, Doosan Fuel Cell will continue to prepare various ways to expand the supply of Tri-gen products and establish them as one of our future cash cows.“