South Korea to launch auctions for 1.43TWh of hydrogen power
In the UK, Gas World reported that South Korea is launching new auctions for hydrogen-derived power, 500GWh classed as “clean” and 930GWh as “general”, as part of its goal to phase out coal-fired power by 2040.
Bidders for the clean power contracts, to be awarded in the second half of 2026, must meet an emissions threshold of no more than 4kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) per 1kg of hydrogen produced, according to the report.
The auctions were announced by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) which also confirmed coal-ammonia co-firing – a previously backed decarbonization pathway for coal plants – will be excluded from the clean power bidding, the report added.
The general hydrogen power bids may accommodate hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels with greater emissions, possibly including grey hydrogen.
The report also highlighted that the ministry also plans to reform the clean hydrogen auction’s evaluation criteria to help build a domestic clean hydrogen industry, encouraging local production and strengthening South Korea’s wider hydrogen supply chain.
Category: Hydrogen
