The Ministry of Environment is in discussions with Jeju provincial authorities to designate the island as the primary candidate for a new clean hydrogen production facility operating on biogas. (Image courtesy of Jeju Province)
JEJU, Nov. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – Jeju Island, South Korea’s popular tourist destination, is advancing an ambitious plan to transform food waste into hydrogen fuel, marking a significant step in the nation’s renewable energy initiatives.
The Ministry of Environment is in discussions with Jeju provincial authorities to designate the island as the primary candidate for a new clean hydrogen production facility operating on biogas, according to an announcement made by Jeju officials on October 31.
A provincial spokesperson indicated that while the ministry will soon open a public bidding process for the facility’s location, Jeju is expected to be the sole applicant, with a final decision anticipated by year’s end.
The planned facility would be constructed adjacent to Jeju’s Regional Food Waste Resource Recovery Facility in Saekdal-dong, Seogwipo. The project aims to utilize methane gas produced from food waste processing as the primary feedstock for hydrogen production.
The existing waste recovery facility currently processes 200-220 tons of food waste daily, using 60-70% of the resulting methane for its own power generation and deodorization processes.
The new hydrogen facility would harness the remaining 30-40% of methane to produce approximately 500 kilograms of bio-hydrogen daily, which would be used to fuel hydrogen-powered vehicles.
In a parallel development, Jeju authorities announced plans to establish a Resource Recycling Industrial Complex in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, by 2028. This facility will focus on recycling used electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and transparent PET bottles.
Kang Ae-sook, director of Jeju’s Climate and Environment Bureau, noted that President Yoon Suk Yeol had pledged strong support for both the hydrogen production facility and the recycling cluster during a public forum on October 15.
“We will work closely with relevant departments to maintain our leadership in resource recycling,” she said.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
