S Korea on track to open hydrogen power bidding market

  • Market: Fertilizers, Hydrogen
  • 24/03/23

South Korea is to open a hydrogen power bidding market in the first half of this year, aiming to commercialise clean hydrogen power generation by 2027.

The trade and industry ministry (Motie) views the introduction of hydrogen power generation as essential to achieving nationally determined contribution targets, it said on 21 March, expecting it to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 8.3mn t by 2030 from 2027 levels.

Motie also expects the opening of what it described as the world's first such bidding market to reduce the unit price of hydrogen power generation on the back of price competition among hydrogen power generation firms.

The ministry on 13 March revealed details on the opening of the bidding market, including bid volumes. The market will be divided into one for general hydrogen power generation and another for clean hydrogen power generation, given that the latter market and supply infrastructure for power generation are not fully established yet.

Only the general market will open for bidding in the first half of 2023. It is scheduled to open once in the first half and another time in the second half of the year. The clean market will open in early 2024 after a clean hydrogen certification system and relevant laws are enacted. Motie expects the general market to supply about 8,000GWh by 2030.

The general market will open in 2023 with new bids of 1,300 GWh/yr from 2025, although this will gradually be reduced to account for higher clean hydrogen supply in the future. The clean market will start in 2024 with new bids of 3,000-3,500 GWh/yr from 2027 onwards. The specific target of 3,500GWh of power to be generated in 2027 was set lower than target co-firing rates of 50pc for hydrogen and 20pc for ammonia to account for the start-up period of relevant facilities, Motie said, with the targets to be achieved from 2028 and power generation to hit 6,500 GWh/yr.

The ministry is looking to finish developing 50pc hydrogen blending in gas turbines and technology to allow for 20pc ammonia co-firing in coal-fired power plants by 2025 through national research and development, with long-term plans to develop 100pc hydrogen electric turbines and 50pc ammonia co-firing technology.

Utilities will buy electricity from the bidding market from 2025, with buyers' purchase volumes distributed according to the proportion of transactions in the power market the previous year.

Hydrogen power generation contracts in the market will range over 10-20 years and can be purchased first in the power market. The ministry plans to resolve the uncertainty of private investment in the hydrogen ecosystem by implementing these long-term contracts of 10 years or more. The contract period for hydrogen power generation volumes secured in the market also needs to be set in consideration of the investment period of overseas hydrogen projects, which is typically 15 years or more.

South Korea intends to create a clean hydrogen market early by introducing a forward market instead of a spot market. It will establish a clean hydrogen supply chain by determining future hydrogen power generation and investing in fuel supply infrastructure before producing electricity.

Fostering domestic industry

Motie also hopes to encourage domestic companies to participate in the hydrogen industry themselves instead of simply acquiring foreign companies. Companies will need to pre-emptively build infrastructure for public institutions such as acquisition bases and pipes, Motie said, adding that government support including budget support will be provided.

Localisation of co-firing facilities, domestic clean hydrogen production and the introduction of overseas clean hydrogen that has domestic firm involvement should be taken into account during evaluations of producer bids, so to foster the domestic hydrogen market, industry participants suggested during a meeting with Motie on 21 March.

"The commercialisation of clean hydrogen power generation in 2027 is a bold challenge to achieve carbon neutrality," said Motie deputy minister Cheon Young-gil. "We will continue to communicate closely with the industry, including today's meeting, and establish a bidding market system to promote voluntary private investment and employment through clean hydrogen power generation and to grow the domestic hydrogen industry."


Sharelinkedin-sharetwitter-sharefacebook-shareemail-share

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News
28/03/24

Crane barge arriving at Baltimore bridge tonight

Crane barge arriving at Baltimore bridge tonight

Houston, 28 March (Argus) — The first major piece of equipment capable of beginning to clear the blocked Port of Baltimore, Maryland, is expected to arrive onsite tonight. The Chesapeake 1000 crane barge, capable of lifting 1,000 short tons with its a 231ft-long boom, is expected to arrive at the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore at 11pm ET on 28 March, the US Coast Guard (USCG) told Argus . Both the crane and the tug pulling it, Atlantic Enterprise , are owned by Donjon Marine. It is currently the only crane on route to the collapsed bridge, the USCG said. There is no official timetable for the reopening of the port after the Interstate 695 highway bridge over the Patapsco River was hit in the early hours of 26 March by a container ship and collapsed, with the debris and ship blocking the waterway. The operator of the ship, Maersk, has contracted with marine salvage company Resolve Marine to refloat the vessel and remove it from the area, according to the USCG. It is not clear who has contracted for the Chesapeake 1000. Despite the inbound crane, it could take weeks or even months to clear debris and reopen the waterway under the collapsed bridge according to a engineering professor at the nearby Johns Hopkins University. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Read more
News

'Weeks, months' to reopen Baltimore waterway: professor


28/03/24
News
28/03/24

'Weeks, months' to reopen Baltimore waterway: professor

Houston, 28 March (Argus) — It could take weeks or even months to clear debris and reopen the waterway under the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, according to a engineering professor at the nearby Johns Hopkins University. As of Wednesday, there was no official timetable for the reopening of the Port of Baltimore after a major highway bridge over the Patapsco River was hit in the early hours of 26 March by a container ship and collapsed, with the debris and ship blocking the waterway. "I'd be shocked if it's weeks, but I don't think it'll take even a year" to clear the waterway, structural engineer and Johns Hopkins professor Benjamin Schafer said Wednesday. He expects the rebuild of the bridge to take significantly longer. "I've lived through quite a few civil infrastructure projects and they're rarely less than 10 years. So I think that's what we're looking at," Schafer said. He noted that it took five years to build the original Francis Scott Key Bridge and seven years to repair the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Florida, after a similar collapse in 1980. Still, "this is definitely not a national supply chain crisis," John Hopkins operations management professor Tinglong Dai said Wednesday. "The effect will be mostly local, mostly minimal and mostly temporary." The bridge collapse and port closure is also unlikely to trigger a global supply chain crisis, he said. The Port of Baltimore is an important but "niche" port specializing in automobile imports and exports, Dai added. "The supply chain has evolved...I have already seen a lot of rerouting happening." Automakers started adjusting their supply routes away from the top port for US vehicle imports the day of the collapse, including General Motors, Ford and Mercedes-Benz. Baltimore is also a major port for coal exports, which may start to shift to terminals to the south in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Freight rates for ships that carry coal could see increases in global markets Other commodities like asphalt and caustic soda that move through the port will see challenges, while organic agriculture imports may see less problems due to seasonal flows. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Mosaic plant sustains minor damage from fire


28/03/24
News
28/03/24

Mosaic plant sustains minor damage from fire

Houston, 28 March (Argus) — Florida-based phosphate and potash fertilizer producer Mosaic anticipates limited damage to a production plant near Tampa and minimal disruption to operations in the coming weeks following a brushfire on Monday. The brushfire ignited Monday evening during routine maintenance near Mosaic's Riverview phosphate production facility and was initially contained before rekindling Tuesday morning because of heavy winds. The fire was fully under control by Tuesday afternoon, according to local first responders. Mosaic told Argus on Tuesday the fire was not considered a threat to the facility initially, but now expects the plant sustained "limited damage to ancillary operations" and the impact could last between four to six weeks. The Riverview plant has a production capacity of 1.8mn metric tonnes (t) of processed phosphate products, and produces 30,000 t/week, according to Mosaic. The facility was producing phosphates primarily for exports to Brazil at the time of the fire, the company added. Smoke was observed Monday from the fire as a result of foam retardants used by local fire officials to cool the high-density polyethylene pipes. Polyethylene gas piping is often used for natural gas distribution. Natural gas flows delivered to the plant fell slightly Wednesday at 2.42mn cf/d, down from 2.45mn cf/d on Monday, once the fire was extinguished, according to data from Florida Gas Transmission. Flows at the plant on Thursday rebounded to 2.45mn cf/d, in line with expectations that affected phosphate output at the plant should only be temporary. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Long-term contracts needed to stabilise gas prices: MET


28/03/24
News
28/03/24

Long-term contracts needed to stabilise gas prices: MET

London, 28 March (Argus) — Germany and Europe need more LNG and business-to-business long-term contracts to even out supply shocks and stabilise gas prices, even as demand is unlikely to reach historical heights again, chief executive of Swiss trading firm MET's German subsidiary Joerg Selbach-Roentgen told Argus . Long-term LNG contracts have a "stabilising effect" on prices when "all market participants know there is enough coming", Selbach-Roentgen said. He is not satisfied with the amount of long-term LNG supply contracted into Germany, arguing that stabilisation remains important even now that the market has "cooled down" after the price shocks of 2022. Long-term contracts are important for the standing of German industry, Selbach-Roentgen said — not to be reliant on spot cargoes is a matter of global competitiveness for the industrial gas market, he said. The chief executive called for more long-term contracts in other areas as well, such as for industrial offtakers, either fixed price or index-driven. Since long-term LNG contracts are concluded between wholesalers and producers, the latter need long-term planning security for their projects, which usually leads to terms of about 20 years. But long-term LNG contracts in general do not represent a major risk for MET nor for industrial offtakers in Europe, Selbach-Roentgen said. LNG is a more flexibly-structured "solution" to expected demand drops in regard to the energy transition as the tail end can be shipped to companies on other continents such as Asia if European demand wanes, he said. Gas demand is not likely to recover to "historical heights" again, mostly driven by industrials "jumping ship", Selbach-Roentgen said. When talking to large industrial companies, the discussion is often about the option that they might divert investments away from the German market as the price environment is "not attractive enough" for them any longer in terms of planning security, the chief executive said. This trend started out of necessity in reaction to the price spikes but may now be connected to longer-term "strategic" considerations, he said. In addition, industrial decarbonisation — as well as industrial offtakers' risk aversion because of the volatile gas market following Russian gas supply curtailments — leads companies to invest less into longer-term gas dependencies in Germany, Selbach-Roentgen said. In addition, MET advocates for a green gas blending obligation of 1-2pc green gas or hydrogen, in line with legislative drafts under discussion by the German government. This has already met with interest by offtakers, despite uncertainties around availability and prices, and would provide a regulatory framework that allows firms to prepare for the energy transition, Selbach-Roentgen said. By Till Stehr and Rhys Talbot Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Brazil, France launch €1bn program to protect Amazon


27/03/24
News
27/03/24

Brazil, France launch €1bn program to protect Amazon

Sao Paulo, 27 March (Argus) — Brazil and France launched a four-year, €1bn ($1.1bn) investment program to protect the Amazon rainforest using private and public funds, the countries said on Tuesday as French president Emmanuel Macron is visiting the South American nation. "Gathered in Belem, in the heart of the Amazon, we, Brazil and France, Amazonian countries, have decided to join forces to promote an international roadmap for protection of tropical forests," the two countries said. Under the program, Brazil's public banks — such as the Bndes development bank — and the French development agency will form "technical and financial partnerships." The two countries also agreed to develop new research projects on sustainable sectors and create a research hub to share technologies to develop the bioeconomy. Macron and Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited Belem — near the mouth of the Amazon and the host city of Cop 30 — on 26 March. During the trip, indigenous leader and environmental campaigner Raoine Metuktire, of the Kayapo tribe, urged Lula to prevent construction of the 900km (559-mile) Ferrograo railroad , which could lower costs of transporting grains from Mato Grosso state, Brazil's largest agricultural producer. Macron will also visit Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and capital Brasilia. This is his first trip to Brazil, as he had cut ties with the South American country during former president Jair Bolsonaro's administration. Bolsonaro put little focus on environmental protections during his term, policies that his successor has reversed. Brazil now aims to reach zero deforestation by 2030. It reduced deforestation in the Amazon by almost 50pc last year, according to government data. Deforestation in the region hit 196km² in January-February, a 63pc drop from the same period in 2023 and a six-year low, according to NGO Imazon, which focuses on research to promote climate justice in the Amazon. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more