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The partners do not provide any information about the amount of the investment. On the other hand, it is public that the joint activities - i.e. the market launch of a LOHC-based hydrogen infrastructure - should initially focus on South Korea before being extended to Europe in the medium term.
LOHC stands for Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier and describes a technology for storing hydrogen using an oil-like liquid. This “carrier” ensures safe and efficient transport of hydrogen - using the existing H2 infrastructure. Hyundai and the German spin-off are striving to expand and market this technology. "With the collaboration, we want to show both our government and end users the benefits of LOHC technology," said Yunseong Hwang, vice president of Hyundai's internal innovation promotion called the Open Innovation Investment Group. The goal is to establish LOHC as a hydrogen vector as part of South Korea's broad ambitions to build a national hydrogen infrastructure.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies GmbH, based in Erlangen, has been involved in the further development of LOHC technology since its foundation seven years ago. The company, which has 80 employees, builds plants for the hydrogen logistics industry and hydrogen filling stations based on the new technology and describes itself as "the world leader in the field of hydrogen storage technologies based on LOHC". In addition to Hyundai, Mitsubishi, AP Ventures, Royal Vopak, Covestro and the Winkelmann Group are also on board as investors. Hydrogenious also includes MAN, Frames, Clariant and Eastman Chemicals among its industrial partners.
Hyundai is one of the most active OEMs in the field of hydrogen technology among automobile manufacturers. In the fall, the South Koreans entered into three strategic partnerships in this area and invested in the companies Impact Coatings, H2Pro and GRZ Technologies. The trio's technologies are expected to reduce the production costs of fuel cell vehicles and make the hydrogen infrastructure safer and more affordable. As part of the new cooperation, the group is now emphasizing that LOHC is a promising technology with regard to hydrogen logistics and storage at petrol stations.
hydrogenious.net