Utility Partners with Seongnam City for H2Gen Hydrogen Project in Korea

In an exciting development in the realm of clean energy, Utility, a prominent company in the field of economic industrial decarbonization, has entered into a groundbreaking agreement with the Seongnam municipal government in South Korea. This initiative aims to establish a state-of-the-art hydrogen demonstration and certification plant, utilising the Company's innovative H2Gen® technology.

The agreement was formalized at Seongnam City Hall, marking a significant step towards advancing South Korea's Hydrogen Economy Roadmap, which emphasizes the need for biogas and hydrogen as crucial energy sources. This move is designed to promote carbon neutrality in the country while also reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. South Korea has been actively investing in biogas projects, aimed at converting organic waste into clean energy, a vital strategy for minimizing greenhouse emissions and improving waste management systems.

Dubbed the "Frontier Korea" facility, this project will be the first of its kind outside the United States, further showcasing Seongnam's leadership in circular economy initiatives and clean energy. The facility is set to produce hydrogen with over 99.995% purity, specifically tailored for fuel cell applications. The hydrogen generated will be supplied to the E1 hydrogen refueling station in Seongnam, catering to the growing market of hydrogen-powered buses, trucks, and cars.

Korea's hydrogen vehicle market is one of the most advanced globally, presenting substantial opportunities for Utility's H2Gen technology. This innovative system electrochemically produces hydrogen from water without requiring electricity, instead harnessing raw biogas energy extracted from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste. The demonstration plant will not only serve to showcase H2Gen®'s utility in Korea but will also comply with Korean Gas Safety standards, facilitating swift expansion across various industrial sectors.

Utility’s strategic focus on Korea stems from the promising opportunities across biogas, steel production, refining, and chemicals industries — all key markets for H2Gen technology. In line with this, Utility has recently established Utility Korea LLC in Seongnam and made a qualifying investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (FIPA).

Deputy Mayor Lim Jong-cheol of Seongnam emphasized the project's innovative approach to wastewater treatment, explaining that it lays the groundwork for a robust clean energy framework. He underscored that this collaboration symbolizes a commitment to enhancing Seongnam City’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) values, aligning with the broader goals of carbon neutrality and resource circulation.

Furthermore, on October 10, Utility commenced operations at its Frontier Facility located in Houston, Texas. This facility is designed for extended runtimes utilizing various feed gases and validating H2Gen®'s versatility and applicability in continual decarbonization efforts. The upcoming Frontier Korea facility is planned as a near replica of the established Houston plant, ensuring a consistent technology transfer.

Parker Meeks, the CEO of Utility, remarked on Korea's proven leadership in decarbonization, noting its strategic importance to the company. He commended the Seongnam Municipal Government for its support and anticipated that the project would significantly contribute to economic decarbonization across diverse sectors in Korea, starting with heavy mobility applications.

About Utility Global
Utility offers actionable solutions aimed at driving economic industrial decarbonization across a variety of industries, including steel, mobility, refining, and chemicals. The H2Gen® technology platform stands at the forefront of this mission by converting energy from industrial off-gases and biogases to produce high-purity hydrogen directly from water, all without electrical requirements.

Utility is part of Ara Partners, a global private equity firm dedicated to the decarbonization of industry, and continues to push the envelope in clean energy innovation.