Doosan unveils hydrogen fuel cell systems for buildings

South Korea's Doosan Corp. on Friday announced the development of hydrogen polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (H2-PEMFC) systems for buildings and homes, with capacities of 1kW and 10kW.

The H2-PEMFC systems directly utilize hydrogen fuel, unlike conventional systems that rely on natural gas reformation.

This pure hydrogen approach offers enhanced electrical efficiency and rapid load-following capabilities due to its lower operating temperatures compared to other hydrogen fuel cell types.

Doosan has obtained design and production stage certification for the H2-PEMFC systems under the stationary fuel cell safety standard KGS AH371.

The company plans to deploy these systems in Samcheok City, Gangwon Province, one of South Korea's hydrogen pilot cities, for demonstration purposes until 2024.

In collaboration with the Korea Institute of Energy Research, Doosan successfully demonstrated the operation of an H2-PEMFC system using hydrogen extracted from ammonia.

This demonstration showcased the potential of ammonia-derived hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, offering comparable electricity generation to high-purity hydrogen.

Ammonia's ease of liquefaction at room temperature under high pressure makes it a promising resource for the hydrogen energy era, surpassing the storage and transportation challenges associated with liquefied hydrogen.

To diversify its product portfolio, Doosan is actively developing hydrogen fuel cells for distributed generation and mobility applications.

By 2026, the company aims to complete the development of a 100kW H2-PEMFC system for distributed generation and a 60kW hydrogen fuel cell power pack for construction machinery.

Additionally, Doosan plans to pursue the development of 100-200kW hydrogen fuel cells for ships.

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com