PEM water electrolysis, which relies on polymer electrolyte membranes to generate hydrogen, is emerging as a next-generation technology for its rapid load responsiveness and potential for miniaturized system design.

KOGAS joined the “Green Hydrogen Production and Storage System Technology Development Project” in 2020, a consortium led by the Jeju Energy Corporation and supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Through the initiative, the country’s first 1MW high-pressure PEM system was installed at the Jeju Haengwon Wind Power Complex.

Since July of last year, hydrogen produced through the demonstration system has been delivered to the Hamdeok Green Hydrogen Charging Station, supporting Jeju’s hydrogen fuel-cell bus pilot program. With steady improvements in operational efficiency, KOGAS has accumulated 13 tons of hydrogen output—enough to fuel approximately 700 hydrogen buses—successfully concluding the demonstration phase.

Looking ahead, KOGAS plans to transfer system usage rights to the Jeju Energy Corporation to help establish an economically viable green-hydrogen production system and support Jeju’s Carbon Free Island initiative. The company also intends to leverage operational data provided by the energy corporation for future research and development projects.

“We will further advance the operation technology of MW-class PEM water electrolysis systems developed through this project to help invigorate the domestic clean-hydrogen ecosystem in line with the government’s energy policy,” a KOGAS official said.