Utility Global signs first commercial hydrogen project deal in South Korea for H2Gen plant in Daejeon
lelezard.comUtility Global, a US-based industrial decarbonization company, has signed an engineering services agreement with South Korea's SAMJIN E&I for its first commercial H2Gen project in Daejeon, South Korea. The plant will produce 3.5 tons per day of fuel cell grade hydrogen for a fleet of hydrogen-powered trams, marking the first project of its kind in the country. The deal moves the project from front-end loading through final investment decision, targeted by June 2027. Utility's H2Gen technology converts water into clean hydrogen and a high-purity carbon dioxide stream using industrial off-gases and biogases, without electricity. This approach reduces costs and complexity around carbon capture. The modular system is designed for hard-to-abate sectors like steel, refining, petrochemicals, and mobility. South Korea is positioning Daejeon as a hydrogen hub, and this project is the first in a series Utility is developing in the country. The project represents Utility Global's first commercial expansion outside the US, following a biogas project in California. SAMJIN E&I provides engineering, fabrication, and project development capabilities. The partnership targets practical and economic decarbonization in transportation and industrial sectors, with potential for replication in other Korean cities.