On September 14th, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) and K-Water (CEO Yun Seog-dae) held a completion ceremony for the ‘Electrolysis-based Green Hydrogen Production Facility" at the Water Treatment Plant in Seongnam (located in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam), which utilizes the plant's small-scale* hydroelectric power generation. Following the ceremony, they also signed an Agreement on the Construction of Infrastructure for Hydrogen Vehicle Charging Facilities Linked to the Production Facility. 

* If the capacity of a hydroelectric power generation facility exceeds 5MW, it is classified as large-scale hydroelectric power, while if it is 5MW or less, it is classified as small-scale hydroelectric power.

Hydrogen is divided into three main categories based on production methods: green hydrogen, gray hydrogen, and blue hydrogen.

Green hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing pure water using renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric power. It does not emit greenhouse gases during production but tends to have higher production costs. 

Gray hydrogen is produced with the emission of carbon dioxide during the production process. It is classified into reformed hydrogen, which is obtained by reforming natural gas at high temperatures and pressures, and by-product hydrogen, which is produced as a by-product in petroleum, chemical processes, or steel production. Blue hydrogen refers to hydrogen that is produced by capturing and storing the carbon dioxide emitted during gray hydrogen production, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The newly completed green hydrogen production facility is the first in South Korea to utilize renewable energy, specifically hydroelectric power. A total of KRW 4.4 billion (KRW 3.1 billion from the government and KRW 1.3 billion from K-Water) was invested in the project. 

Using two small-scale hydroelectric power generators (700kW) at the Seongnam Water Treatment Plant, it is possible to electrolyze (water electrolysis) 18 tons of water (H2O) to produce 188 kg of hydrogen (H2) per day, which is enough for powering 40 hydrogen vehicles. 

The hydrogen produced here will be supplied to the hydrogen refueling station in Galhyeon-dong, Seongnam by land transportation (tube trailer method) until 2024. Starting from 2025, a mobile hydrogen refueling station being developed by Hyundai Motor Company will be installed near the Seongnam Water Treatment Plant, allowing hydrogen produced at the plant to be directly supplied to hydrogen vehicles through a pipeline network.

The Ministry of Environment and K-Water will also enter into an "Agreement on the Construction of Infrastructure for Hydrogen Vehicle Charging Facilities Linked to the Production Facility" with Hyundai Motor Company and Seongnam City. This agreement aims to establish infrastructure that will facilitate smooth supply of hydrogen from the production facility to hydrogen vehicles.

In particular, the Ministry of Environment will present three policy visions in the field of green hydrogen that utilize abundant renewable energy sources, such as multi-purpose dams, managed by K-Water, during the completion ceremony held on this day.

The three policy visions in the field of green hydrogen are: 1. Expanding the establishment of green hydrogen production facilities based on electrolysis utilizing renewable energy sources such as hydropower; 2. Including electrolysis-based hydrogen energy in the water industry, utilizing various infrastructure and experiences in the water industry to support domestic green hydrogen companies; and 3. Nurturing K-Water as a leading global public enterprise in the production and utilization of electrolysis-based green hydrogen.

In addition to the green hydrogen production facility at the Seongnam Water TreatmentPlant, the Ministry of Environment plans to commence construction of a green hydrogen production facility that utilizes small-scale hydroelectric power at the Miryang Dam (led by Miryang City) in the first half of next year. Moreover, the Ministry is currently proceeding with the basic design contract for a green hydrogen production facility that utilizes large-scale hydroelectric power at the Chungju Dam (led by Chungju City) this year.

Park Jae-hyeon, Director of the Water Management Policy Office at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "To achieve the 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), we plan to promote the widespread adoption of over 300,000 hydrogen vehicles and actively expand the production of green hydrogen that does not emit greenhouse gases during the production process." 

He added, "Through the three visions of green hydrogen policy, the Ministry of Environment will join forces with Korean companies, boldly take on challenges, and open the future of Korea as a leading hydrogen nation."

Yun Seog-dae, CEO of K-Water, stated, "Green hydrogen, as a clean energy source with no carbon emissions, can completely replace fossil fuels, which are the main culprits of greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the direct solutions to the climate crisis." He added, "Through this green hydrogen production facility, K-Water has achieved the first domestic production and supply of green hydrogen utilizing small-scale hydroelectric power at a water treatment plant. We plan to continuously expand green hydrogen production bases and infrastructure nationwide."

Contact: Lee Seaho-ho, Deputy Director

Air Quality Future Division / +82-(0)44-201-6884