Hyundai Develops Production for Green Hydrogen with Next Hydrogen

Hyundai and Kia are intensifying their efforts to pave the way for the cost-effective production of clean hydrogen through a global hydrogen company. To this end, the two mobility companies have now signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with Next Hydrogen Corporation. The plan is to jointly develop a groundbreaking alkaline water electrolysis system.

(Offenbach/Main) Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation are intensifying their efforts to pave the way for the cost-effective production of clean hydrogen through a global hydrogen company. To this end, the two mobility companies have now signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with Next Hydrogen Corporation. The Canadian company, a subsidiary of Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc., specializes in water electrolysis technology. The agreement stipulates that the partners will jointly develop an alkaline water electrolysis system and the associated stack, the central element of the system, to economically produce so-called green hydrogen. As part of the cooperation, the potential technological applications and future business opportunities will also be explored.

Producing Hydrogen Without CO2 Emissions

Producing hydrogen cleanly or greenly – without generating CO₂ emissions – is currently expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Next Hydrogen aim to improve the price competitiveness of green hydrogen while considering regional climate and environmental specifics. The companies, which are broadening their base by examining the strengths and weaknesses of various water electrolysis technologies, have agreed to explore the possibility of an alkaline water electrolysis system. In this method, water is electrolyzed using an alkaline electrolyte such as potassium or sodium hydroxide. It is considered one of the most proven and technologically thoroughly tested water electrolysis methods and has an extensive track record in research and development. Additionally, it allows for large-scale hydrogen production, keeping plant costs low. Furthermore, the catalysts used are relatively inexpensive.

Reducing Production and Maintenance Costs

The goal is to advance the stack-related technologies that form the core of the alkaline water electrolysis system, thereby reducing the costs of manufacturing, maintenance, and operation of the system. The most significant advancement expected from the project is the development of a new stack that can operate at high current density. This would make it possible to produce more hydrogen with the same footprint, making the plants more economical. The newly developed stack will utilize the component technology of Hyundai Motor and Kia regarding electrodes, bipolar plates, and current collectors, while Next Hydrogen will contribute its design technology. Hyundai Motor and Kia will also oversee the performance tests of the new stack. A pilot test is planned for the coming year. “We look forward to collaborating with Next Hydrogen, a specialist in cutting-edge water electrolysis technology. This partnership is another leap forward for our hydrogen business and will be our first step into the alkaline electrolysis market,” says Jae-Hyuk Oh, Vice President & Head of Energy Business Development Group at Hyundai Motor Group. “We believe our technology fits excellently with that of Next Hydrogen. This synergy will help us achieve the goal of providing our customers with cost-effective green hydrogen.”

Jae-Hyuk Oh (left), Vice President and Head of Energy Business Development Group at Hyundai Motor Group / Raveel Afzaal (right), President and CEO of Next Hydrogen (© Next Hydrogen Corporation)

Efforts for Sustainable Transportation

“Next Hydrogen’s innovative water electrolysis stack design technology is an ideal solution to enable the economic production of green hydrogen,” says Raveel Afzaal, President & CEO of Next Hydrogen. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Hyundai Motor and Kia. They are considered pioneers of this technology in the industry. We expect this partnership to advance efforts to leverage new opportunities for sustainable transportation worldwide.” There are various ways to produce hydrogen. The production of green hydrogen is among the cleanest methods, as it is generated using renewable energies such as offshore wind, thus producing no CO₂ emissions. Due to its environmental friendliness, green hydrogen is also referred to as the “fuel of the future,” with the potential to revolutionize the industrial and transportation sectors worldwide. In contrast, so-called gray hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, which release CO₂ when burned. Blue hydrogen is produced in the same way, but here the CO₂ is captured using special technologies and stored in underground reservoirs, preventing it from entering the atmosphere.

HTWO Brand for World-Leading Fuel Cell Strategy

Due to high production costs, many hydrogen companies worldwide are working on advancing their water electrolysis technologies to produce green hydrogen more economically. This common goal has brought Hyundai Motor Group and Next Hydrogen together. The parent company of Hyundai Motor and Kia recently introduced the new HTWO brand, which represents the group’s world-leading fuel cell system. The name stands for the English pronunciation of the hydrogen molecule H2 and for the two central terms of the Hyundai Motor Group’s fuel cell strategy: Hydrogen and Humanity. The group is also intensifying its efforts to develop a next-generation fuel cell system that can be applied in various forms of mobility, from urban air mobility (UAM) to road traffic, shipping, and rail transport. Title photo: © Hyundai