Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) and SK ecoplant, a subsidiary of SK Group, have announced a sale of Bloom’s electrolyzer technology to Korea Southern Power Co., Ltd (KOSPO) and local government for a large-scale green hydrogen demonstration on Jeju Island, South Korea.
The project, which will start in late 2025, will use 1.8 MW of Bloom’s Solid Oxide Electrolyzer (SOEC) technology to produce hydrogen from renewable sources for transport fuel. The project is part of Jeju Island’s “Carbon Free Island 2030” initiative, which aims to switch all vehicles and electricity generation to renewables by 2030.
The project will also involve a consortium of other companies and technologies, with the Bloom Electrolyzer being selected for its high electrical efficiency. The consortium plans to build and operate the nation’s largest 12.5MW-scale hydrogen production facilities, and to achieve economic viability and commercialization of green hydrogen.
Bloom Energy and SK ecoplant have been strategic partners since 2018, and have deployed 400 MW of Bloom’s solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and SOEC in South Korea. SK ecoplant will be a preferred distributor for Bloom’s products globally in markets where it has a competitive advantage.
“The extension of our partnership with SK ecoplant to include this deployment of Bloom’s SOEC is a logical step to show the superior efficiency of our electrolyzers compared to other technologies in the important South Korean market,” said KR Sridhar, founder and chairman, CEO of Bloom Energy, Inc.
“South Korea has been a leader in policies enabling clean hydrogen, and the efficiency and flexibility of Bloom’s SOEC will demonstrate our commitment to the lowest cost green hydrogen for South Korea.”
“The results of this demonstration project will be crucial for SK to advance in the electrolysis market and pursue green hydrogen development projects domestically and internationally using Bloom’s Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC),” said Kyung-il Park, CEO of SK ecoplant.
“This participation exemplifies a strategic collaboration between SK and Bloom, expanding the scope of cooperation from power generation (fuel cell) to global green hydrogen development projects, further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two companies.”
Benjamin Gaszynski to lead Bloom energy business in Southeast Asia