S Korea to invest $2.3B in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industrial ecosystem over next 5 years
25 June 2018
The South Korean government and businesses will invest some 2.6 trillion won (US $2.33 billion) over the next five years in a public-private partnership to speed up the development of the country’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicle ecosystem, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).
The target is to be able to install 310 hydrogen stations by 2022 to supply 16,000 fuel cell vehicles. The funds will be spent on building plants for fuel cell vehicles and fuel cell stacks, manufacturing fuel cell buses and developing hydrogen storage systems.
Some 125 billion won (US$112 million) will go to supporting R&D for major components such as the fuel cell stack.
In 2018, the plan envisions the investment of 150 billion won (US$135 million) in establishing a special corporation for hydrogen filling stations, with the goal of reducing the cost of filling station construction by 30%.
For 2019, the plan envisions spending 420 billion won (US$377 million) for the production of hydrogen buses and demonstrations, hydrogen storage vessels for buses, and the mass production of a domestic CNG reforming device for the production of hydrogen.
From 2020 to 2022, the plan foresees the expenditure of 2 trillion won (US$1.8 billion) on the expansion of plants for the production of hydrogen, fuel cell stacks, and the mass production of packaged hydrogen filling stations.
Is this the same network of hydrogen filling stations people were saying was never going to happen, as FCEVs were just a ploy to delay BEVs?
Posted by: Davemart | 25 June 2018 at 08:34 AM
The arrival/development of the Hydrogen economy is unavoidable and will happen at a faster rate than many posters claimed. It will not replace BEVs and diesel electric trains but will be complementary and a valuable alternative.
So-Korea has the means/knowhow and will to do it and will favourably compete with Japan, China, California and many EU countries.
Posted by: HarveyD | 25 June 2018 at 09:22 AM
As fascinating as this is, it would be nicer if Korea just slammed out 50 stations and put a government order in for 1,000 FCEVs. Giant ambitious plans in the vacuum of a kernel of substance is concerning. They do have largest installed base of utility scale MW fuel cell power plants.
Posted by: Jimandrea | 25 June 2018 at 11:18 AM
Jimandrea:
Korea has the orders in for 130 hydrogen filling stations by 2020, and the Government has ordered 5,000 Hyundai Nexo FCEVs, down from 10,000, likely because they did not want to crowd out demand from others for the car, which is higher than expected.
Happy?
Posted by: Davemart | 25 June 2018 at 12:45 PM
How about using hydrogen on the merchant ships that currently burn bunker oil?
Posted by: Lad | 25 June 2018 at 12:45 PM
Eventually, diesel-electric locomotives and boats/ships will be upgradable with FC-electric units, whenever clean none polluting H2 is 'on spot' made, stored and available and much lower cost.
The H2 economy is just starting to gain speed and H2 making, carriers and uses will evolve as will batteries and ultra caps.
Lower cost plentiful REs will support both technologies.
Posted by: HarveyD | 25 June 2018 at 06:06 PM
Look at that. A whole country putting forward only 5% of what Volkswagen is doing for electric vehicles.
Is that all they've got, or is that all they want to lose?
Posted by: juxx0r | 25 June 2018 at 07:54 PM
Why build fuel cell vehicles in South Korea? A modern BEV would take you anywhere in South Korea with range to spare. The place is like an island as you have water on 3 sides and North Korea on the other side. They get about 70% of their electric power from fossil fuels, 20% from nuclear, and about 10% from renewables including hydro. They have no oil and some natural gas but are also importing natural gas. Why are they wasting resources on hydrogen?
Posted by: sd | 26 June 2018 at 08:27 PM
wondering what to do with all the (Billions of tons?)of left over CO2?
Maybe make crushed diamonds for these/?:Organically synthesized porous carbon shows “exceptional” potential as Li-ion anode material
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/06/20180626-opsc.html
but they will have to compete with this mob:
"Hair / Ashes to Diamonds in Australia
Memorial diamonds are forever. LONITÉ turns human hair and cremation ashes of your loved one into diamonds in Australia. Cremation diamonds are certified by GIA. Every essence and provenance of your beloved is captured forever in the unique LONITÉ memorial diamond from ashes."
Carbon[C] accounts for 18% of the human body; diamonds are crystalized carbon. Memorial diamonds are genuine diamonds grown by using the carbon contained within hair or cremation ashes. LONITÉ's London branch office makes it possible to turn your loved one's ashes or hair into close heart diamonds in Australia.
Nitrogen [N] accounts for 3% of the human body, which gives the diamond a Naturally Amber™ colour, varying from light yellow to deep orange.
Purely Colourless™ diamonds are created by removing nitrogen [N] from the carbon [C].
They are keen on steam reforming from NG. Thinking -USA- TRUMP Anyone?
Posted by: Arnold | 27 June 2018 at 01:07 AM
Very low cost REs will supply clean energy to produce clean affordable (under $0.03/kWh) plentiful H2 in the near future
Clean H2 will power cars, trucks, trains, ships and many airplanes in the near future?
On board converters will also be used to make clean (on the spot) H2.
Posted by: HarveyD | 27 June 2018 at 08:01 AM