A couple of days ago I talked about South Korea’s Master Plan eco community on two islands to the north and west of Seoul. The South Korean Master Plan community involves the islands of KangHwa and OnJin-gun.
Now, on a different island to the west of Seoul (and there are many islands around South Korea) called Nanjido, the government is developing its first landfill to hydrogen project. Typically, landfills create a large amount of hydrogen rich methane that has to be dealt with in one way or another.
The landfill, which had been closed in 1993 because it reached capacity, channeled the methane to heat the 60,000 seat Seoul World Cup Stadium. With new technology supplied by South Korea’s SK Group, the carbon in the methane will be sequestered and 99.9 percent pure hydrogen will be produced.
The hydrogen produced from the landfill recycling station will refuel two hydrogen buses and two hydrogen cars including a Hyundai fuel cell vehicle. Some of the hydrogen will also be used to create electricity for the Nanji Art Studio in town.
Because of poor air quality around Seoul and the foresight to invest in hydrogen solutions, South Korea is becoming a country to watch in regard to H2 development. Several Hyundai and Kia fuel cell vehicles are currently being tested in the country and have been for the past several years.
Along with Japan and China, South Korea may just be a hydrogen powerhouse in the next 5 to 10 years and beyond.