[월간수소경제 박상우 기자] KEPCO discussed joint cooperation plans with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Corporation, and Aqua Power to achieve carbon neutrality, such as hydrogen production and conversion to fuel oil and natural gas.
On the 18th (local time), KEPCO President Jeong Seung-il, who accompanied President Moon Jae-in on a tour of the Middle East, attended the ‘Korea-Saudi Smart Innovation Growth Forum’ held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on hydrogen and ammonia cooperation between KEPCO and Aramco in the presence of the two heads of state (local time). MOU) was signed.
This MOU was signed for mutual cooperation on the conduct of a pre-feasibility study related to the development of blue hydrogen and blue ammonia to achieve carbon neutrality. It is expected to serve as an opportunity to discover fields and develop business models.
To achieve carbon neutrality, the energy conversion sector must achieve the ambitious goal of generating 22.1 TWh of electricity from ammonia power generation by 2030 and 166.5 to 270 TWh from carbon-free gas power generation by 2050. It is estimated that 13 million tons of hydrogen and ammonia, respectively, will be used for this purpose by 2050.
On the same day, KEPCO President Jeong Seung-il had a separate meeting with Aramco President Amin al-Nasser and discussed ways of joint cooperation to develop a potential partnership model related to the production and supply of blue hydrogen and ammonia.
President Jeong Seung-il emphasized, “We sympathize with Aramco’s challenges and active efforts for the transition to carbon neutrality and clean energy, and we hope that each other will become strategic partners on the long journey toward carbon neutrality.”
In addition, KEPCO Electric Power Research Institute and Saudi Aramco, which has a global-level R&D center, agreed to cooperate in research and development of new technologies such as carbon neutrality and energy efficiency improvement.
President Jeong Seung-il signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation between Saudi Electricity Corporation and Aqua Power on the promotion of fuel removal, which is Saudi Arabia’s main energy policy task. The parties involved △ fuel conversion of oil power plants in Saudi Arabia △ efficiency improvement of existing power plant assets △ environmental improvement and CO2 They discussed the development and promotion of measures to contribute to the reduction.
The signing of this MOU has the effect of not only contributing to the Saudi government’s decarbonization policy through sectoral cooperation, but also securing the sustainability of power plants already in operation in Saudi Arabia and discovering new business models in markets with great potential. is expecting
KEPCO is leading the carbon-neutral field by achieving the hydrogen economy era in line with the great energy transition period of ‘carbon neutrality’, while continuing efforts to win orders for Saudi nuclear power plants in close cooperation with the government to create a second successful case of nuclear power export. We are going to develop
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