The era of carbon neutrality, what is Korea's choice? You've likely heard of the hydrogen economy in the news. With climate change now a global challenge, hydrogen is rapidly emerging as the 'future energy' to replace fossil fuels. This is no longer a matter of choice but one of survival. However, it's necessary to delve deeper into what the hydrogen economy entails and what challenges lie in making it a reality. On April 21, 2026, KBS Daejeon's 'Science World SEE' program focused on the rapidly reorganizing global industrial structure in the era of carbon neutrality and the turning point for the hydrogen economy. The broadcast went beyond mere technological trends, offering a multifaceted analysis of the overall impact hydrogen energy will have on the global industrial structure and our lives. It deeply explored Korea's position and direction amidst the accelerating shift from an oil and coal-centric energy system to a 'new energy paradigm' centered on hydrogen, nuclear power, and renewable energy. Globally, responding to climate change has become an urgent issue. Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, many countries have set carbon neutrality (Net Zero) targets, intensifying efforts to expand renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen, in particular, is gaining attention as a 'game changer' amidst these changes. According to the broadcast, hydrogen, as an eco-friendly energy source, could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6 billion tons annually if it replaces fossil fuels. This scale of impact extends beyond simple energy transition to environmental survival. Consequently, Korea has set a target to establish a green hydrogen production base with an annual capacity of 250,000 tons by 2030. This is considered one of the most ambitious hydrogen targets in the East Asian region. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, generating almost no carbon dioxide emissions during its production process. Korea's setting of such a specific numerical target expresses its strong commitment to actively participate in the global energy transition. However, achieving this goal presents significant challenges, including overcoming limitations in production technology and reasonably adjusting economic costs. To understand why several countries, including Korea, are actively pursuing the hydrogen economy, it's necessary to examine changes in the global energy market. Major developed countries like the United States and Europe are accelerating technology development and investment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and Korea is also participating in these efforts. The broadcast emphasized the possibility that, within this international context, Korea could accelerate the realization of carbon neutrality by integrating hydrogen supply chains into its renewable energy-centric infrastructure. However, resolving technical and policy challenges inevitably requires short-term cost burdens and long-term cooperation. Even though hydrogen is highly regarded as a future energy source, practical obstacles hinder its commercialization. The broadcast pointed out the persistently high cost and difficulties in storage and transportation as major hurdles to hydrogen commercialization. Specifically, the large volume of hydrogen per unit weight was cited as the biggest problem, making storage and transport challenging. Specifically, storing 1 kg of hydrogen requires a space of 11,000 liters. This significantly increases logistics costs and is a key factor impeding the practicality of the hydrogen economy. While hydrogen has the advantage of high energy density, storing a large amount of energy per unit mass, its low efficiency relative to volume makes it unsuitable for large-scale transportation. One emerging solution to these problems is the utilization of ammonia. The broadcast introduced ammonia as a frequently discussed practical alternative for hydrogen transport. It was explained that ammonia is efficient because it can be liquefied at a relatively low temperature of approximately -33°C and transported in tanks. Ammonia is an efficient option for storing large quantities of hydrogen and has recently garnered significant industry attention. Hydrogen and ammonia are complementary in terms of transportation and storage. Utilizing ammonia as a hydrogen carrier can significantly resolve the volume issues encountered when transporting hydrogen directly. However, experts point out that the technology to convert ammonia back into hydrogen must also be developed to establish a complete hydrogen economy ecosystem. The broadcast featured experts such as Professor Kim Ki-hwan, Professor Kim Jae-kyung, and Professor Cho Won-cheol from the Department of Future Energy Convergence, who offered insights into the technological trends and future industrial outlook of the hydrogen economy. Obstacles and Solutions for Hydrogen Commercialization Furthermore, the diversification of technology development is expected
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