CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO < invest Korea

[Seoul = Newsis] An aerial view of HTWO Energy Cheongju. (Photo = Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group) 2026.7.9. photo@newsis.com

According to Newsis,

(Seoul = Newsis) Reporter Ryu In-seon – Hyundai Motor Group has constructed its first Waste-to-Hydrogen (W2H) clean hydrogen production facility in South Korea.

On the 9th, Hyundai Motor Group held a completion ceremony for HTWO Energy Cheongju.

Seo Kang-hyun, President of Planning and Coordination at Hyundai Motor Group, stated, "HTWO Energy Cheongju is an example of establishing a local production-for-local consumption circular economy model that converts local waste into clean hydrogen energy to be consumed within the region again."

He added, "We will actively contribute to helping Cheongju establish itself as a leading inland hydrogen business city representing South Korea, and take this opportunity to expand our region-independent hydrogen production model into the global market."

HTWO Energy Cheongju is the first waste-to-hydrogen production and refueling complex directly operated by Hyundai Motor Group.

It produces and supplies clean hydrogen by utilizing biogas extracted from sewage sludge waste generated within the Cheongju area.

Hyundai Motor Group built production and refueling facilities on a 7,500-square-meter site within a public sewage treatment plant.

The facility possesses a daily production capacity of approximately 500 kg of hydrogen. This volume is sufficient to refuel about 100 NEXO fuel cell vehicles or around 30 hydrogen fuel cell buses.

In collaboration with the government and local authorities, Hyundai Motor Group plans to expand HTWO Energy Cheongju's average daily hydrogen production capacity to 2 tons by 2030.

Once HTWO Energy Cheongju begins full-scale operations, it is expected to reduce costs incurred during the transportation and storage of hydrogen produced in other regions.

At the same time, it is anticipated to boost the hydrogen resource independence of Cheongju and surrounding areas.

Aiming to build energy-independent ecosystem models like HTWO Energy Cheongju, Hyundai Motor Group is actively driving W2H projects in partnership with domestic and international enterprises, institutions, and local governments.

Domestically, the group has previously advanced W2H ecosystem activation projects in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Paju, Gyeonggi-do, by constructing biogas-based clean hydrogen production facilities and establishing energy utilization frameworks.

Overseas, it is pursuing hydrogen ecosystem development projects—including designing and implementing customized hydrogen solutions for local markets—in countries such as Indonesia and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group's recently announced KRW 42 trillion investment plan for the Yeongnam region also includes a blueprint to utilize its Ulsan Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plant as a strategic production hub for hydrogen mobility.

Observations suggest that the group's efforts to build a comprehensive hydrogen value chain will gain further momentum.

◎ NEWSIS, ryu@newsis.com



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Source Text

Source: Newsis (July 09, 2026)

** This article was translated from Korean.