Liquid Hydrogen Carrier Conceptual Image. (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy )
SEOUL, May 10 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has launched a joint public-private task force to spearhead the development of next-generation liquid hydrogen carriers, a strategic initiative to maintain the country’s global edge in shipbuilding and pioneer a future green energy market.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced Friday that it held an inauguration ceremony at BEXCO in Busan for the newly established “Public-Private Liquid Hydrogen Carrier Promotion Task Force.” The initiative marks a critical step in developing high-value, technically complex vessels that are expected to succeed the nation’s globally dominant LNG carriers.
Liquid hydrogen carriers are viewed as a vital innovation in the K-shipbuilding sector due to their potential to drastically improve transport efficiency—by liquefying hydrogen at -253°C, its volume can be reduced to 1/800 of its gaseous state, enabling more than tenfold transport efficiency.
However, the field remains nascent, with no large-scale commercial vessels currently in operation, underscoring its technological and logistical challenges.
Building on its 2024 “Super-Gap Strategy for Liquid Hydrogen Carrier Development,” MOTIE has committed to advancing three core areas: securing foundational technologies in materials, components, and equipment; constructing demonstration-scale vessels; and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
The government plans to invest 55.5 billion won (approximately $38 million) this year and aims to launch the world’s largest demonstration ship by 2027.
Currently, 43 R&D projects involving 101 institutions are underway, prompting the ministry to establish the task force to streamline coordination, enhance synergies, and prevent fragmentation. Participants include representatives from the Big Three Korean shipbuilders, academic institutions, and national research organizations.
The task force will focus on facilitating collaboration between R&D teams, supporting the construction of pilot ships, and establishing a robust supply chain for liquid hydrogen-related equipment. It also aims to guide South Korea’s homegrown technologies toward becoming global standards.
A MOTIE official noted, “We are committed to revising relevant legal frameworks and accelerating early acquisition of large-scale liquid hydrogen ship technology so that Korea can lead the international standard-setting process in this emerging sector.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
