2 weeks Ago By Korea Bizwire
A view of the hydrogen production facility unveiled during the completion ceremony held at the Pyeongtaek Hydrogen Specialized Complex in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on July 27, 2022. (Yonhap) PYEONGTAEK, April 25, (Korea Bizwire) — The city of Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province is emerging as a national leader in South Korea’s hydrogen economy, expanding its infrastructure, attracting global investment, and advancing research to position itself at the forefront of clean energy innovation. On April 25, city officials detailed an ambitious roadmap that includes scaling up hydrogen production, building integrated urban supply systems, and developing a model hydrogen city by 2028.
Hydrogen has been designated one of Pyeongtaek’s three strategic growth engines, alongside semiconductors and future mobility. Pyeongtaek currently operates South Korea’s largest natural gas-based hydrogen production facility, located in the city’s hydrogen-specialized industrial zone. Built in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Gyeonggi Province, the facility has been producing 7 tons of hydrogen per day since 2022 — enough to power 430,000 hydrogen vehicles annually.
A second plant, capable of producing 15 tons per day, is slated for completion by 2026. A view of the hydrogen production facility unveiled during the completion ceremony held at the Pyeongtaek Hydrogen Specialized Complex in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on July 27, 2022. (Image provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) The city is also aggressively attracting domestic and international investment.
Major industry players such as Linde, Air Products, and local fuel cell manufacturer Mikopower have expressed interest in hydrogen ventures in the region. A key component of Pyeongtaek’s strategy is the Hydrogen City Project in Poseung-eup, launched after being selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2022. With a total budget of 47 billion won (approx.
$34 million), the project aims to build a 15-kilometer urban hydrogen pipeline network that will link production sites with residential zones, transportation hubs, and industrial clusters. In parallel, the city is transforming the Port of Pyeongtaek — a major logistics hub in Asia — into a carbon-neutral hydrogen port. Since 2021, the city and its partners, including Hyundai Motor and Korea Gas Corporation, have piloted hydrogen-powered cargo trucks and car carriers, with plans to extend hydrogen usage to port equipment such as yard tractors and reach stackers.
Gyeonggi Province has successfully attracted South Korea’s first green hydrogen production facility to Pyeongtaek. Air Products, a global industrial gas company based in the United States, has signed an agreement to establish a clean green hydrogen production facility in the Poseung (BIX) District of Pyeongtaek. (Image courtesy of Gyeonggi Province) To address the shortage of renewable energy sources needed for RE100 compliance, Pyeongtaek is exploring the import of green hydrogen from overseas and has invested 48 billion won into a clean hydrogen demonstration center in Brain City industrial complex.
The facility, expected to be completed by 2026, will support testing, evaluation, and commercialization of hydrogen technologies. Another milestone came in March 2025 with the opening of the Korea Institute for Clean Hydrogen Advancement (KICHA), a non-profit foundation supported by the industry ministry. KICHA will serve as a national hub for hydrogen research and talent development.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat — it’s a present reality that demands urgent action,” said Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-seon. “Hydrogen is not just a technology of the future — it’s our strategy for survival and competitiveness in a decarbonizing global economy.” Ashley Song ( ashley@koreabizwire.
com ).
