Hyundai Motor Group is building a resource-recycling hydrogen production facility in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The facility, based on a "local production for local consumption" model that converts regional waste resources into hydrogen for reuse within the region, is expected to enhance hydrogen resource independence in Cheongju and surrounding areas.
Hyundai Motor (005380) Group said it held the completion ceremony for "HTWO ENERGY Cheongju" on the 9th. Attendees included Hyundai Motor Group President for Planning and Coordination Suh Kang-hyun, Vice Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Lee Ho-hyun, North Chungcheong Province Governor Shin Yong-han, and Cheongju Mayor Lee Jang-seob.
"HTWO ENERGY Cheongju" is a facility that produces and supplies clean hydrogen using biogas extracted from sewage sludge waste generated within Cheongju. It is the first resource-recycling hydrogen production-refueling complex operated by Hyundai Motor Group.
Cheongju was selected last year as a target city for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's "Hydrogen City Development Project." Hyundai Motor Group chose Cheongju as the base for its first resource-recycling hydrogen production facility, considering that the city is undertaking systematic management of hydrogen infrastructure, expansion of hydrogen mobility, and transition to an eco-friendly transportation system.
"HTWO ENERGY Cheongju" was built on an approximately 7,500-square-meter public sewage treatment plant site. It features various production and refueling facilities, including an upgrading facility that removes hydrogen sulfide and moisture from biogas to refine it into high-quality methane gas, a hydrogen extraction facility that reacts biomethane with steam to produce hydrogen, and a hydrogen refueling station that fills vehicles with high-pressure hydrogen.
"HTWO ENERGY Cheongju" can produce about 500 kg of hydrogen per day. This is enough to refuel about 100 Nexo hydrogen fuel cell passenger cars or about 30 hydrogen fuel cell buses. In connection with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Hydrogen City Development Project, Hyundai Motor Group plans to expand the daily average hydrogen output of "HTWO ENERGY Cheongju" to 2 tons by 2030.
Once Hyundai Motor Group's first hydrogen complex is in operation, it is expected to reduce costs incurred in transporting and storing hydrogen produced in other regions, securing economic feasibility. It can also achieve the effect of enhancing hydrogen resource independence in Cheongju and surrounding areas. Through this, the group has set a goal of contributing to the region's transition to an eco-friendly energy system and the achievement of carbon neutrality.
Starting with "HTWO ENERGY Cheongju," Hyundai Motor Group plans to actively pursue resource-recycling hydrogen production facilities at home and abroad. "HTWO ENERGY Cheongju is a case of establishing a circular economy model based on 'local production for local consumption,' which converts regional waste resources into hydrogen, a clean energy, for reuse within the region," said Suh Kang-hyun, Hyundai Motor Group President for Planning and Coordination. "Hyundai Motor Group will actively contribute to making Cheongju an inland hydrogen business leading city representing Korea, and using this as an opportunity, will expand the region-independent hydrogen production model into the global market."
