Three evaluation buildings, 21 types of testing equipment to be installed
Reliability seen as key to industry success, secured through advanced technology
Gangwon Province's liquid hydrogen reliability evaluation center in Samcheok is set to be completed by year-end.
The project was launched to strengthen the technological competitiveness of South Korea's liquid hydrogen industry and to support companies in developing products and entering the market.
The center is expected to help liquid hydrogen companies cut the time and cost of product development while improving product quality and reliability, contributing to their entry into both domestic and international markets.
It will also serve as a foundation for developing Gangwon Province into a hub for liquid hydrogen research, testing and evaluation through joint research and technology support with companies and research institutions.
Liquid hydrogen has drawn attention as a key technology for large-scale hydrogen supply and the expansion of hydrogen mobility, given its higher storage and transport efficiency compared with gaseous hydrogen — and reliability is critical to the industry's success.
Products such as storage containers, valves, pipes and pumps are used in cryogenic environments, making high levels of technical capability and reliability essential. The need for a dedicated testing and evaluation system has long been recognized, and Samcheok is now on the verge of completing one equipped with cutting-edge technology.
Gangwon Province has invested 28.7 billion won ($21 million) to build specialized infrastructure in Samcheok for testing and evaluating the performance and reliability of liquid hydrogen-related materials, components and equipment. Construction work and the installation of 21 types of testing and evaluation equipment are currently under way. With key facilities and equipment now largely secured, the center is on track for completion by year-end.
The province plans to use the center to test and evaluate the performance, durability and environmental characteristics of products and components developed by companies, and to build a system for accumulating related data.
It also plans to support prototype production and the development of evaluation standards, helping companies advance their products and technologies.
Park Yu-sik, director of Gangwon Province's Future Industry Bureau, said the center "will become a core infrastructure facility that strengthens the technological competitiveness of South Korea's liquid hydrogen industry and supports companies in commercializing their products." He added that the province would "manage the project meticulously to ensure the center is completed without a hitch, and continue to expand practical support systems that companies can truly feel."
abc@heraldcorp.com
