Wave energy plant in South Korea to produce green hydrogen

The Yongsoo wave energy pilot plant, installed offshore Jeju Island in South Korea, is being prepared to produce green hydrogen.

Yongsoo oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converter is installed in Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) wave energy test site, located on the western part of Jeju Island.

The 500kW fixed OWC wave energy device features two impulse turbine generator units with a diameter of 1.8 meters.

The device has been operated to evaluate the performance of the wave power generation system, demonstrate the optimal operation control logic, and verify the digital twin technology.

According to the new report from International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Ocean Energy Systems (OES), the plant is now being prepared to produce green hydrogen, starting from next year.

The generator type of two units will be changed from synchronous generators to permanent magnet synchronous generators, after which the test operation will be completed. From next year, developers plan to start producing green hydrogen offshore using marine energy, it is stated in the report.

“The basic design of the hydrogen production system has been completed, and we plan to complete manufacturing and onshore performance testing this year,” the report reads.

The 500kW device is installed at KRISO’s wave energy test site. The 5MW site, built to accommodate different types of devices, features five test berths, at water depths ranging from 15 to 60 meters.

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