A South Korean-based joint venture, between local industrial group Hyosung Heavy Industries Company and German chemical company Linde Group, this week began construction of the world’s largest liquid hydrogen production plant.
Construction got under way on Monday in Ulsan. It is scheduled to become operational in early 2023 using Linde’s proprietary hydrogen liquefaction technology.
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Linde said the plant would have a production capacity of 13,000 tonnes of liquid hydrogen per year, enough to power 100,000 vehicles, resulting in a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 130,000 tonnes per year.
The two partners also agreed to spend KRW300bn (US$265m) on a network of filling stations across South Korea to distribute the fuel when the plant becomes operational.
The liquid hydrogen will be stored in large insulated tanks at extremely cold temperatures, below minus 253 deg C, which takes up less volume than if it were stored in gaseous form even at extremely high pressure.
The South Korean government has set ambitious targets for the adoption of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles.
Earlier this year, it announced five leading South Korean industrial companies, including SK group, Hyundai Motor, Posco, Hanwha and Hyosung, have pledged to spend a combined KRW43trn ($38bn) on hydrogen-related infrastructure and technology by 2030.
