South Korea's Hydrogen Revolution: Fuel Consumption Hits Record High
Key Ideas
- Hydrogen fuel consumption in South Korea has surged by 46% in the first half of the year, reaching a record high of 3,798 tonnes.
- The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy predicts a continued increase in demand, with expectations to reach 8,400 tonnes by the end of the year.
- The country has seen a rise in the number of hydrogen-powered buses, surpassing 1,000, prompting Hyundai to expand its manufacturing capacity to 3,000 annually.
- South Korea aims to have 20,000 hydrogen buses on the road by 2030 as part of its decarbonization strategy.
In South Korea, hydrogen fuel consumption for road vehicles has seen a significant increase, rising by 46% in the first half of the year to reach a total of 3,798 tonnes, marking a new peak. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy expects this growth trend to continue, projecting a surge in demand to 8,400 tonnes by the end of the year. This surge in consumption aligns with the rising number of hydrogen-powered buses in the country, which have now crossed 1,000 units, leading Hyundai to boost its annual manufacturing capacity to 3,000 vehicles. With 989 hydrogen buses currently on the road due to the addition of 339 new vehicles in the last semester, South Korea has set ambitious targets for the future, aiming to have 20,000 hydrogen buses operational by 2030 as part of its comprehensive decarbonization strategy.