KHNP Unveils Research Findings on High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis Demonstration Planning Integrated with Nuclear Power Plants

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) recently participated in the "3rd K-SOC Symposium," hosted by the Korean Ceramic Society and held at OSCO in Cheongju on July 23. During the event, KHNP held a special session on high-temperature steam electrolysis, engaging in discussions with experts from industry, academia, and research institutions on technology development directions and demonstration deployment strategies.

The K-SOC Symposium is a major academic event in the field of solid-state ion engineering in South Korea, held every three years, covering topics such as materials, cells, stacks, systems, and processes for solid oxide batteries.

At this special session, KHNP presented the research findings of its self-conducted "Preliminary Planning Survey for High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis Demonstration Integrated with Nuclear Power Plants." The survey identified key conditions required for building a pilot-scale high-temperature steam electrolysis system, including the available residual process heat capacity of nuclear power plants, suitable sites, and practical integration schemes, providing a preliminary basis for hydrogen demonstration research leveraging nuclear plant infrastructure.

High-temperature steam electrolysis is a technology that decomposes high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen. Compared with existing low-temperature electrolysis routes, this technology is expected to reduce hydrogen production costs and improve the economic efficiency of the hydrogen production process.

Experts from the Korea Institute of Energy Research, the Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, as well as universities and enterprises, also participated in the special session, sharing progress in core materials and cell development for high-temperature steam electrolysis, large-capacity stack and durability technologies, and system demonstration strategies.

Kong Young-kun, head of KHNP's Hydrogen Convergence Division, stated that the company will continue to collaborate with industry, academia, and research institutions to advance related technology development and demonstration, striving to secure a first-mover advantage in the field of clean hydrogen from nuclear energy.