Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CEZ (Czech Electricity Board) on the 10th (local time) in Prague, Czech Republic, for ‘Cooperation in Clean Hydrogen Projects and Technology Development.’
This agreement was pursued to jointly identify cooperative projects in the European clean hydrogen market based on the nuclear power plant operation capabilities and hydrogen technologies possessed by both institutions, and to contribute to the realisation of global carbon neutrality.
According to the agreement, the two institutions agreed to cooperate across the entire clean hydrogen sector, including: projects such as low-carbon and renewable hydrogen production, fuel cell power generation, and e-Fuel production; full-cycle hydrogen technology development including hydrogen production, storage, transport, utilisation, and safety; and information exchange on changes in policy, regulation, technology, and markets.
In particular, they plan to progressively review demonstration projects and commercialisation possibilities within the Czech Republic, focusing on clean hydrogen production models that utilise stable power based on nuclear energy.
CEZ is the largest energy company in the Czech Republic, operating four units at the Dukovany nuclear power plant and two units at the Temelín nuclear power plant, accounting for approximately 70% of Czech electricity production. Currently, a project to build two new nuclear power units in the Dukovany region is underway, and KHNP is implementing the project without a hitch as the main contractor.
This cooperation is expected to serve as an opportunity to expand the scope of strategic energy cooperation between Korea and the Czech Republic into the hydrogen field.
Young-gon Kong, Vice President of KHNP's H2 & Smart Business Department, stated, “This MOU will be a meaningful milestone for KHNP’s nuclear-based clean hydrogen business to expand into the European market,” and added, “KHNP will combine its technical prowess and business capabilities to build a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem together with the Czech Republic.”