[월간수소경제 성재경 기자] The government decided to invest more than 1.2 trillion won in energy technology development this year, and announced new tasks for energy technology development.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announces 80 new R&D tasks for the first energy technology development this year on the 27th (Fri).
Of this year’s new budget for energy technology development (KRW 115.9 billion), KRW 102.4 billion, or 88%, was supported through the first public notice, and the ‘nuclear power plant decommissioning competitiveness strengthening technology development project’ (20 tasks, 33.7 billion won) will be announced separately.
This energy technology development project focuses on the creation of a new energy industry as a growth engine and export industrialization, the stabilization of the supply chain and demand efficiency for the establishment of energy security, and the establishment of a basis for innovation in the energy industry.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to invest KRW 1,206.5 billion in energy technology development this year, up 0.8% from the previous year, of which KRW 115.9 billion will be invested in new tasks.
173.6 billion won, up 3.7% from the previous year, will be invested in technology development in the nuclear field, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), safety of operating nuclear power plants, and nuclear decommissioning.
205.9 billion won will be invested in the development of hydrogen-focused technologies and energy safety fields presented in the ‘World’s No.
This year, a new support project for the hydrogen sector was also presented.
In terms of amount, ammonia-hydrogen hybrid power generation technology development is the largest at 63 billion won. Four USC-class boiler ammonia co-firing power generation technology development and demonstration projects (KRW 28 billion), and hydrogen hybrid combustion conversion technology development and demonstration projects (KRW 25 billion) of gas turbines for power generation are promoted.
In the case of water electrolysis technology, KRW 6.5 billion is invested in the development of a 10MW-class alkaline water electrolysis system, KRW 4 billion in the development of water electrolysis stack performance certification safety technology, and KRW 7 billion in the development of power system stabilization fuel cell and water electrolysis system-linked operation technology. .
The development of safety verification technology for the entire cycle of hydrogen mixing through city gas pipes (22.5 billion won) and the development of hydrogen embrittlement evaluation and life prediction safety technology development tasks for city gas pipes (5.5 billion won) are also newly promoted.
Separately, KRW 66.9 billion will be invested in the CCUS field, such as securing large-scale storage through drilling exploration, discovering additional promising structures, and planning for demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the Donghae Gas Field.
The government plans to improve the R&D management system to share excellent results by creating a cooperative energy research and development (R&D) planning process with public enterprises and promote the spread of joint use. In addition, it will nurture the manpower required for fostering the new energy industry, provide job information, and strengthen employment links by utilizing programs specialized for mid-sized companies.
It is also noteworthy that the government decided to fully support the regulatory sandbox centered on the new energy industry by establishing an organization dedicated to supporting the regulatory sandbox within the Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning and establishing a new regulatory sandbox track for each entire process, such as R&D planning, progress, and completion.
Details regarding this notice can be found on the website of the Ministry of Industry (www.motie.go.kr) and the Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (www.ketep.re.kr). After receiving the business plan in March or April, the project implementer is confirmed through selection evaluation, and later an agreement is signed to support R&D expenses.
On February 9, we plan to hold a business briefing session to inform about the contents of the announcement, how to apply for R&D projects, and future schedules.