An SK Energy gas station in downtown Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 12 (Korea Bizwire) — In a significant development for the energy industry, the National Fire Agency announced on Sunday that the installation of hydrogen fuel cells, a form of power generation equipment, is now legally permissible at gas stations.
This announcement follows a partial amendment notice to the detailed standards of the Act on the Safety Control of Hazardous Substances, which regulates the safe handling of dangerous materials.
Effective from Friday, this amendment specifically allows for the installation of fuel cells at gas stations, with a limitation to facilities utilizing city gas for electricity generation.
Moreover, the notice establishes crucial safety standards for these fuel cell installations, aiming to mitigate potential hazards associated with their use.
Previously, gas stations were strictly prohibited from installing fuel cells, with exceptions only granted for refueling or ancillary business purposes.
The rationale behind this restriction stemmed from concerns over the potential for significant casualties in the event of accidents involving these installations.
However, the revised notice has paved the way for the fire and disaster management agency to establish a solid foundation for the deployment of fuel cells at gas stations, alongside the requisite installation standards.
To ensure safety compliance, several key measures have been outlined in the revised standards for the installation of fuel cells at gas stations.
These include the installation of protective walls surrounding the fuel cell, positioning the fuel cell atop a structurally capable building, implementing protective mechanisms to prevent vehicle collisions, and incorporating a manual shut-off valve.
It is worth noting that prior to this development, the National Fire Agency had already permitted the installation of solar power generation facilities and electric vehicle charging infrastructure at gas stations.
With the addition of fuel cells, gas stations are embracing a diverse range of renewable energy technologies, fostering a more sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to power generation within this vital sector.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
The mobile hydrogen filling station being set up by Totalenergies at Le Mans should be a model of how to quickly and safely refuel hydrogen cars elsewhere. All it takes is a tanker of liquid hydrogen and a dispensing pump and we can have a hydrogen filling station anywhere, even in the middle of the desert. And this station can refuel hydrogen cars all day long — and also refuel hydrogen generators to charge battery cars.