Samsung C&T Corporation (028260.KS), through its construction division, has completed Korea's first off-grid green hydrogen production facility powered entirely by renewable energy. Off-grid refers to a system that produces energy independently without receiving electricity, gas, or other energy from external sources. The facility is expected to mark a new milestone in Korea's hydrogen energy transition, as it can mass-produce green hydrogen in a self-sufficient manner using only renewable energy without an external power grid.
Samsung C&T announced Wednesday that it completed a green hydrogen production facility linked to solar power generation in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan, People Power Party lawmaker Song Eon-seok, North Gyeongsang Province Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Yang Geum-hee, Gimcheon Mayor Bae Nak-ho, Daegu Regional Environment Office Director Cho Eun-hee, Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning President Lee Seung-jae, Korea Hydrogen Union Chairman Kim Jae-hong, and Samsung C&T President and CEO Oh Se-chul.
The completed facility uses 100% renewable energy generated from 8.3 MW of solar power to produce green hydrogen (10 MW capacity) through water electrolysis. It can produce 0.6 tons per day and more than 230 tons of green hydrogen annually. The hydrogen produced will be supplied to hydrogen vehicle charging stations and other facilities through linkages with regional hydrogen infrastructure.
This project is the first case in Korea to apply an off-grid method that produces hydrogen by directly utilizing renewable energy without relying on an external power grid. It is also significant in that it presents a renewable energy-based green hydrogen production model. Samsung C&T plans to leverage the experience gained from this project to prepare for entry into overseas green hydrogen businesses and to pursue localization of water electrolysis equipment and operational technologies, which have been designated as national strategic technologies.
"By realizing Korea's first off-grid-based green hydrogen production, we have secured a technological foundation for pursuing large-scale green hydrogen projects both domestically and internationally," said Jeong Ki-seok, head of Samsung C&T's Renewable Energy Technology Research Center. "We will continue to strengthen our competitiveness in the global green hydrogen market based on our eco-friendly energy technology and business capabilities."
Samsung C&T has positioned green hydrogen and ammonia as core pillars of its future eco-friendly energy business, pursuing related projects in global markets including the Middle East and Australia. Domestically, the company is also expanding across the entire green hydrogen value chain, including participation in hydrogen and ammonia storage and supply infrastructure construction projects.
