South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced on Wednesday that the country plans to ease regulations for hydrogen charging stations starting next year to bolster the sector's growth.

The updated rules, outlined in the revised High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act, are set to take effect in May. These changes aim to lower obstacles for establishing new hydrogen charging stations.

As per the revised guidelines, the required safety distance between charging stations and nearby facilities-currently ranging from 12 to 30 meters-can be reduced if the stations are equipped with appropriate safety features, such as protective walls.

Additionally, the new rules will allow the stations to service not just hydrogen-powered automobiles but also other hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including forklifts, excavators, and trams.

Park Chan-ki, the ministry official overseeing hydrogen economy policy, stated, "Following the launch of new hydrogen automobiles, public interest in the hydrogen mobility ecosystem is growing." He added that the government remains committed to overhauling regulations to foster the development of the hydrogen industry.

South Korea's Ambitious Hydrogen Strategy

In January 2019, Korea announced its Hydrogen Economy Roadmap aligning with country's broader goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of the plan, the country established 1,200 hydrogen charging stations nationwide by 2040, supporting the adoption of 6.2 million hydrogen vehicles. The government has allocated massive investments to accelerate this transition, including funding for hydrogen production, storage and distribution. South Korea aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse  gas emissions, and position itself as a beacon of hydrogen technology globally.

Economic Impact of Eased Hydrogen Regulations

• Boost to Private Investment: Lowering regulatory barriers is expected to attract significant private investments in hydrogen infrastructure and related industries.
• Job Creation: Thousands of new jobs are anticipated in areas such as station construction, maintenance, and hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing.
• Support for Local Industries: Industries like construction, transportation, and hydrogen technology manufacturing stand to benefit from increased demand.
• Energy Security: Expanding the hydrogen ecosystem will reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, enhancing the country's energy independence.
• Global Competitiveness: A thriving hydrogen economy positions South Korea as a leading exporter of hydrogen technologies and infrastructure solutions.

Is this the end of EV dominance?

Hydrogen is the most prevalent element in the universe, yet it is not easily found on Earth. Currently, most pure hydrogen is produced by separating carbon from methane, a process that generates carbon emissions. In contrast, zero-emission "green hydrogen" is produced through electrolysis, where clean electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Every energy conversion results in some heat loss, which means hydrogen fuels always provide less energy to the vehicle. These losses are even greater if the hydrogen is burned directly or converted into e-fuels to replace petrol or diesel in a noisy, hot internal combustion engine.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, refers to the technology as "fool sells," questioning why green electricity should be used to produce hydrogen when it could be directly used to power the car instead?

So all in all, while South Korea's push for hydrogen infrastructure is a significant development, it does not necessarily signal the end of electric vehicle (EV) dominance. Hydrogen-powered vehicles and EVs serve different needs and markets, with hydrogen being a strong contender in sectors requiring heavy-duty and long-range transport, such as trucks, buses, and industrial machines. EVs, on the other hand, are more suitable for urban personal transport due to their lower production costs and efficiency.