This charging station is a large-scale project that was selected for the Ministry of Environment’s hydrogen charging station installation support contest. It requires a total investment of 15 billion won, including 7 billion won in national funds. The facility can charge 200 kg of hydrogen per hour and has the capacity to charge up to 150 hydrogen buses per day.

It boasts a charging speed that is approximately twice as fast as the existing liquid charging stations in Gyeonggi and Incheon, and is expected to contribute to the expansion of hydrogen commercial vehicles that require large-scale hydrogen consumption.

The charging station is located in the Chonam Industrial Complex in Gwangyang-eup, and through an agreement with Gwangyang Transportation, it will stably supply hydrogen fuel to buses operating in Gwangyang City.

This is expected to promote the conversion of local public transportation to hydrogen vehicles and serve as an important foundation for expanding hydrogen-based public transportation infrastructure in South Jeolla Province.

Liquid hydrogen is a safer and more efficient method than gaseous hydrogen

Liquefied hydrogen is a liquid state made by cooling gaseous hydrogen to minus 253 degrees Celsius. It is evaluated as a more efficient and safe method of transportation and storage than gaseous hydrogen.

Compared to gaseous hydrogen, the pressure is lower, reducing the risk of explosion, and large-scale transportation is possible, making it suitable for fuel supply for large hydrogen buses or commercial vehicles that require large-scale hydrogen consumption. Due to these characteristics, liquid hydrogen is likely to become a key infrastructure for activating the hydrogen economy.

Former South Jeolla Province Economic Vice Governor Park Chang-hwan said, “Jeollanam-do and Hyosung achieved the construction of this liquefied hydrogen charging station through the ‘Business Agreement for Fostering the Clean Hydrogen Industry’ signed in 2022,” and evaluated that “this charging station is an important result of Jeollanam-do’s plan to revitalize the clean hydrogen economy for energy independence.”

He added, "As a region leading in energy decentralization, Jeollanam-do hopes that many companies will use this charging station as a stepping stone to participate in the green hydrogen business."

Pros and Cons of Liquid Hydrogen

High transportation efficiency: Liquid hydrogen is reduced to 1/800 of the size of gaseous hydrogen, allowing much more hydrogen to be transported in the same volume. This is advantageous for large-scale hydrogen transportation and storage and is suitable for fueling commercial vehicles such as hydrogen buses.

Safety: Liquid hydrogen is stored at a lower pressure than gaseous hydrogen, so there is less risk of explosion. This increases safety during storage and transportation.

Shelf life : In liquid form, hydrogen has a longer shelf life than gas, making it suitable for large-scale storage.

Cost issues : The process of converting to liquefied hydrogen requires cryogenic cooling, which can lead to high energy consumption and higher operating costs.

Complexity of Cooling and Storage: Liquid hydrogen must be kept at an extremely low temperature of minus 253 degrees Celsius, so specialized equipment and infrastructure are essential. Maintenance is more complex and expensive than gaseous hydrogen.

Jeollanam-do accelerates hydrogen infrastructure expansion.

South Jeolla Province currently operates 10 hydrogen charging stations, including the Gwangyang Chonam Liquid Hydrogen Charging Station, and plans to increase the number to 37 by 2030.

In addition, the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure is positioned as one of the key strategies for achieving energy independence and energy decentralization promoted by Jeollanam-do.

Through this, Jeollanam-do is expected to strengthen its status as an energy capital and grow into a center for activating the green hydrogen economy.

The construction of a liquid hydrogen charging station in Jeonnam is expected to be an essential turning point for the expansion of hydrogen commercial vehicles and the transition to clean energy. However, continuous technological development and support will likely be needed to maximize the advantages of liquid hydrogen while resolving cost issues and operational complexity.

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