Hyundai Motor Group Opens First Waste-to-Hydrogen Facility in Cheongju
Hyundai Motor Group inaugurated HTWO ENERGY Cheongju, its first Group-operated waste-to-hydrogen production and refueling station, producing 500 kg of hydrogen per day.
- 500 kg
- 2 metric tons per day
- 100 NEXO or 30 buses
What Happened
Hyundai Motor Group announced the opening of HTWO ENERGY Cheongju, its first Group-operated integrated waste-to-hydrogen (W2H) production and refueling facility, located in Cheongju, South Korea. The facility converts biogas from local wastewater sludge into hydrogen, establishing a localized production ecosystem. This reduces supply chain costs compared to transporting hydrogen from distant coastal areas.
500 kilogramskg
Sufficient to fuel about 100 Hyundai NEXO FCEVs or 30 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses.
- Biogas upgrading: purification systems to produce high-quality biomethane
- Hydrogen production: extraction via reaction of biomethane and steam
- Carbon capture and utilization: liquefied CO2 for industrial reuse
- Compression: high- and low-pressure compressors for storage and distribution
- Storage: high- and low-pressure vessels for stable supply
- Refueling: hydrogen dispensers for fuel cell electric vehicles
W2H project announced in Indonesia, converting landfill biogas into hydrogen
W2H project announced in Hong Kong, utilizing landfill gas for tourism buses and airport shuttles
HTWO ENERGY Cheongju opens as first Group-operated W2H facility
Capacity expansion to 2 metric tons per day in Cheongju
The facility also includes a Hydrogen Academy on the second floor for education and public engagement, showcasing the W2H process and hydrogen ecosystem applications. Hyundai Motor Group is developing similar customized W2H ecosystems in Indonesia and Hong Kong, with insights from each project informing future initiatives in other regions.
Why this matters
This facility marks a shift toward localized hydrogen production from waste, reducing transportation costs and supporting regional energy independence. For Cheongju, it means a dedicated supply of hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles, potentially lowering emissions. The Group’s plan to scale capacity to 2 metric tons per day by 2030 signals long-term commitment to hydrogen mobility.
Terms in This Story
- waste-to-hydrogen
- A process that converts waste materials, such as biogas from sewage sludge or landfills, into hydrogen fuel.
- biogas upgrading
- The purification of raw biogas to remove impurities like hydrogen sulfide and moisture, producing high-quality biomethane for hydrogen production.
- FCEV
- Fuel cell electric vehicle, a type of electric vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity for the motor.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.