Bloom Energy Electrolyzer Bolsters South Korea’s Hydrogen Power Vision

California-based Bloom Energy announced the first international deployment of its high-temperature solid oxide electrolyzer.

The successful 130-kilowatt installation in Gumi, South Korea, further boosts Bloom Energy’s efforts to instill a hydrogen-fueled economy following the commercial launch of the Bloom Electrolyzer in 2021. 

Bloom’s high-temperature electrolyzer is functioning at its intended high efficiency, producing hydrogen onsite with more efficiency than low-temperature PEM and alkaline electrolyzers.

Because it operates at high temperatures, the Bloom Electrolyzer needs less energy to split water molecules and produce hydrogen.

In production, the Bloom Electrolyzer is expected to operate at 46-kilowatt hours per kilogram of hydrogen (kg H2) output with water as its input. When steam is used, the electrolyzer requires even less electricity, expected to operate at 40.4 kW-hr/kg H2, driving further efficiencies.

“The successful deployment of our electrolyzer internationally is a testament to the confidence it has garnered to create viable pathways to achieving a net-zero, hydrogen-fueled future,” said Deia Bayoumi, vice president, global product management, Bloom Energy. “This marks a critical step in our mission to transform the global energy landscape and enable the hydrogen economy.”

The project is in line with efforts by South Korea to decarbonize its energy system and become a global leader in the hydrogen economy in the decades coming.

With heavy investments in new technologies and infrastructure to speed up the production and adoption of the carbon-neutral fuel, South Korea intends to replace fossil fuels with hydrogen as its chief power source by 2050, as per the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

With the capacity to scale hydrogen production steadily, Bloom Energy and SK Ecoplant are well-suited to take South Korea’s energy transition ahead.

“A significant milestone in our successful partnership with Bloom Energy, this latest collaboration is a testament to our shared vision to transform South Korea’s energy landscape and unlock new value through innovation,” said Seoung-hwan Oh, vice president, hydrogen business, SK Ecoplant. “Bloom Energy’s technology has demonstrated unparalleled performance and efficiency, further establishing us at the forefront of South Korea’s clean energy market.”