SK E&S Co., an energy unit of South Korean conglomerate SK Group, will cooperate with domestic firms to strengthen the country’s liquid hydrogen fueling ecosystem.

The company signed a non-binding agreement with Hyosung Heavy Industries Corp., gas supply system developer Cryos Co., energy transportation system maker Dalim Co. and gas compressor producer Kwanghin Machine Ind. Co. on Monday to localize and jointly use liquid hydrogen charging stations.

Under the agreement, SK E&S and Hyosung will maximize the use of domestic products when establishing liquid hydrogen charging stations. In Korea, products from overseas companies such as France’s Air Liquide are used more than local goods for liquid hydrogen plants and fueling stations.  

Cryos, Dalim and Kwangshin will jointly develop and manufacture products for liquid hydrogen storage tanks, tank trailers, pumps, valves, vaporizers and compressors, which are the core facilities of liquid hydrogen fueling stations.

SK E&S will use the domestic partners’ products to build liquid hydrogen charging stations in some cities including Busan, Cheongju and Incheon. The company will establish 10 stations by the first half of 2024 and eventually expand that number to about 40.

The partnerships will accelerate fostering materials, components and equipment for liquid hydrogen charging as new export items and spur growth of related industries such as shipbuilding, auto and aviation, an SK E&S official said.

SK E&S will enhance the competitive edge of the ecosystem of the local liquid hydrogen industry alongside business collaboration with domestic companies that have technological prowess, Chief Executive Choo Hyeong-wook said.