Korea Hydrogen Green Energy Network (KoHyGEN) reported Dec. 1 that it’s picked Emerson’s automation solutions to ensure the safety and reliability of its pioneering hydrogen infrastructure initiative, which recently completed the world’s largest hydrogen refueling station for commercial vehicles. The project is an important step toward their goals of reducing emissions, driving investment in hydrogen and accelerating the transition to a net-zero global economy.
“We’re committed to building smart, safe hydrogen refueling infrastructure by leveraging IT-based integrated operations, using large capacity, high-efficiency charging systems and, most importantly, strengthening design safety standards,” says KyungSil Lee, CEO at KoHyGEN. “Emerson is helping us secure abundant clean energy for Korea and the world.” KoHyGEN is a special purpose company held jointly by nine energy industry leaders: Korea District Heating Corp., Hyundai Motors, GS Caltex, S-Oil, Hyundai Oilbank, SK Energy, SK Gas, E1 and Air Liquide Korea.
JeonjuPyeonghwa hydrogen refueling station is the first of 35 high-capacity, gas and liquid hydrogen refueling stations that KoHyGEN plans to build across Korea by 2025. The first station has a charging capacity of 300 kilograms per hour, and can fuel up to 15 buses and trucks per hour. This is more than 100 per day, which is 12 times more than an average-capacity hydrogen refueling station.
To further prepare for a stable hydrogen supply chain, Emerson and KoHyGEN are collaborating on technical standards for future, high-capacity, commercial refueling stations and similar projects. KoHyGEN plans to expand its hydrogen supply platform to service hydrogen-powered aircraft, ships and other forms of transportation.
“In line with Emerson’s ‘Greening By’ sustainability strategy, we’ve worked on a range of hydrogen projects globally, applying our expertise and innovative technologies to scale hydrogen consumption and make renewable energy a reality,” says Mike Train, Emerson’s chief sustainability officer. “Partnering with KoHyGEN is another step forward in diversifying our global energy mix.”
In addition to experience across the hydrogen value chain, Emerson is providing core technologies, including temperature transmitters, flowmeters, pressure transmitters, programmable logic controllers (PLC) and valves, to deliver the high level of performance necessary for developing a commercially viable hydrogen charging model that can expand Korea’s domestic hydrogen market and serve as a template in other countries.
