“버려지던 수소를 전기로…” 세계 최대 현장은? / KBS 2026.04.16.

With carbon neutrality emerging as a challenge of our time, eco-friendly power generation utilizing hydrogen is garnering attention as an alternative. The construction of the world's largest hydrogen fuel cell power plant is currently underway at the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex, and reporter Jang Seong-gil covered the site. [Report] At the Ulsan Petrochemical Complex, three rectangular buildings stand side by side. These are the hydrogen fuel cell power plants. These are facilities that generate electricity through the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, rather than by burning fuel. Two of the three power plants have completed construction and recently began full-scale operation. [Yoo Yeon-seong / Ulsan Enerroot Operations Team Manager: "It is an eco-friendly power source that produces electricity and thermal energy by combining hydrogen with oxygen in the air. It can supply power to companies in the Ulsan Industrial Complex..."] The operation method is as follows: Hydrogen is supplied by companies in the Ulsan Chemical Complex, electricity is generated through fuel cells, and then transmitted to KEPCO via transformers. The two power plants currently in operation have an installed capacity of 40 MW, enough to power approximately 70,000 to 80,000 households. The primary fuel for these power plants is byproduct hydrogen generated during the crude oil refining process. This is significant because it transforms hydrogen—previously used for simple combustion or sold at low prices—into a high-value energy source by utilizing it for power generation. The power plant management explained that there are virtually no emissions of air pollutants, such as fine dust and sulfur oxides. [Lee Gyu-seon / Head of Ulsan Enerroot Power Plant: "If three additional hydrogen fuel cell power plants begin phased commercial operation by the end of this year, the world's largest hydrogen fuel cell power plant complex with a total capacity of 78 MW will be established."] While the power plant currently utilizes byproduct hydrogen, it plans to pursue a transition to clean hydrogen, moving away from crude oil, in the future. The fuel cell equipment itself is capable of using clean hydrogen without any separate modifications. This is Jang Seong-gil reporting for KBS News. Cameraman: Ryu Seok-min ▣ View Original KBS Article: http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?nc... ▣ Send a Tip ◇ KakaoTalk: Search 'KBS제보' ◇ Phone: 02-781-1234 ◇ Website: https://goo.gl/4bWbkG ◇ Email: [email protected] Copyright ⓒ KBS. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use (including AI learning) are prohibited. #Ulsan #PetrochemicalComplex #Hydrogen #HydrogenFuelCell #LocalNews