Fuel cell research and development is getting a boost in KSA and South Korea

Saudi-Korean JV Fuel Cell Innovations (FCI) intends to invest USD 115 mn by 2027 to produce hydrogen fuel cell components at a plant in Korea’s Pohang Blue Valley National Industrial Complex, Korean daily the Korea Herald reports.

The company recently announced that it would construct a new “gigafactory” in Pohang, targeting the production of 1 GW-worth of fuel cells every year, the Korea Herald noted.

It’s researching the development of hydrogen fuel cells: FCI is conducting research into multiple kinds of fuel cells, including fuel cells powered by green hydrogen, captured CO2, and ammonia, according to the Korea Herald. In October, FCI received production approval to manufacture commercial hydrogen products from the state-owned Korea Gas Safety Corporation, it added.

This is part of a larger plan to diversify its products and up its use of clean energy: In July, FCI signed an agreement with Korean refinery S-Oil to develop hydrogen, fuel cells and renewable energy — with plans that include carbon capture, recycling, and developing the technology to create solid fuel oxide cells (SOFCs).

SOUND SMART- SOFCs are often powered by hydrocarbons, including natural gas and methane — but are considered a high-efficiency, low-emissions alternative to energy sources like coal. FCI currently produces SOFCs and molten carbonate fuel cells — high temperature fuel cells that generally run on hydrocarbons, the Korea Herald noted.

One immediate priority for FCI is to produce high-efficiency SOFCs to power buildings and ships: The company intends to launch 45 kW SOFCs in early 2023, to be used in mid-sized and large buildings. In early December, FCI opened a facility in Korea’s Daejeon that can produce 3 MW-worth of 1.5 KW SOFCs per year, to power buildings and houses, the Korea Herald noted. The company is also reportedly developing “high capacity” fuel cells for ships by 2024.

FCI plans to set up a KSA HQ in 2023 and a green hydrogen plant at some point: FCI intends to launch its Saudi headquarters in Riyadh in 2023, as part of its KSA and South Korea-focused expansion plans in the coming years, the Korea Herald noted. The company also intends to build a green hydrogen plant in KSA, although there are no details available on the planned timeframe.

So far, its work in KSA has been in supplying products to strategic sectors: FCI has reportedly been working with its Saudi partner organization Taqnia Energy to provide fuel cell products to electric, telecoms and military facilities in the country, according to the Korea Herald.

Background on FCI: The JV was launched in 2018 to supply products to MENA and Korea. It’s structured as a consortium, and participating companies include KSA’s Saudi Aramco and Taqnia Energy and South Korea’s S-Oil and Samsung.