Samsung C&T [028260:KS], the engineering and construction unit of Samsung Group, has won a KRW140bn (USD103m) contract to build the infrastructure for South Korea’s first coal and hydrogencompound-fueled power plant, as reported by the Korea Economic Daily on April 9. Under the contract, Samsung C&T will construct facilities for storing, unloading, and transporting hydrogen compounds at Korea Southern Power’s (KOSPO) plant in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. In addition, Samsung C&T will also build a 30,000-ton tank to compress and store hydrogen compounds for KOSPO’s power generation. Upon completion, the co-firing power plant will adopt a fuel blend containing at least 20% carbon-free hydrogen compounds. In this way, KOSPO expects to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 million tons a year.

Samsung C&T will leverage its expertise from previous global energy storage projects to help develop this groundbreaking project. Furthermore, the huge hydrogen storage tank features a double-walled, fully enclosed structure, in place of single-walled ones adopted by conventional designs, to achieve higher security. This initiative forms part of the broader efforts by coal-reliant Asian countries to explore co-firing technologies,seeking to decarbonize the hard-to-abate power generation sector while retaining existing thermal power facilities. Last month, Japan’s top power generator, JERA, launched a pilot program to co-fire 20% of ammonia with coal at its Hekinan thermal power station.Similarly, India’s Adani Power [ADANI:IN] unveiled plans last November to co-fire up to 20% green ammonia at the Mundra Plant, India’s largest private-sector power facility.

Sources:

https://www.kedglobal.com/construction/newsView/ked202404090007

Samsung C&T to Construct Infrastructure for Hydrogen Compound Power Generation in South Korea