SK Innovation E&S completes hydrogen charging station at Incheon airport

A hydrogen recharging station at Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2 parking garage / Courtesy of SK Innovation E&S

SK Innovation E&S, a major energy solutions developer, has completed a liquefied hydrogen charging station at Incheon International Airport, the company said Thursday, calling it the world’s first airport-based facility designed to support carbon neutrality.

Built on a 2,771-square-meter site inside the Terminal 2 parking garage, the station can supply up to 320 kilograms of liquefied hydrogen per hour, enough to fully charge as many as 240 hydrogen buses a day.

The station is supplied by SK Innovation E&S’ liquefied hydrogen production plant in Incheon’s Seo District, about 25 kilometers from the airport. The plant produces 90 tons of liquefied hydrogen per day, or about 30,000 tons annually, and is operated with the company’s own logistics system. According to SK Innovation E&S, it is the world’s largest facility of its kind.

The company expects the new station to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen-powered buses serving the country’s largest airport. Of the 68 shuttle buses operating 24 hours a day between the airport’s terminals, parking areas and cargo terminal, 36 have already been replaced with hydrogen buses.

SK Innovation E&S said additional airport shuttle buses will be converted to hydrogen later this year. Hydrogen buses will also be gradually introduced to limousine bus routes connecting the airport with major destinations across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

Jeon Young-jun, right, head of SK Innovation E&S’ New Energy Business Division, and Bae Young-min, second from right, chief infrastructure officer of Incheon International Airport Corp., pose with officials from Incheon Metropolitan City and the city’s Buk District while recharging a hydrogen bus at a newly opened hydrogen charging station at Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2 parking garage, Thursday. Courtesy of SK Innovation E&S

The project was carried out through public-private cooperation. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport provided 7 billion won ($5 million) in funding, while Incheon Metropolitan City contributed 3 billion won. SK Plug Hyverse, SK Innovation E&S’ hydrogen-focused subsidiary, invested 4.3 billion won. SK Plug Hyverse currently operates 21 liquefied hydrogen charging stations nationwide.

Both the government and the company said Incheon International Airport was an ideal location for the project, citing its high traffic volume of about 172,000 vehicles a day and its role as a gateway for international visitors, presenting an opportunity to visibly showcase Korea’s commitment to carbon neutrality.

Replacing conventional buses with hydrogen vehicles is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Airport buses run an average of 548 kilometers a day — nearly twice the distance of typical city buses — making emissions reductions more impactful. A single hydrogen bus can cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 56 tons annually, according to the company.

Hydrogen buses can be fully refueled in less than 30 minutes, faster than electric buses, and can travel more than 600 kilometers on a single charge, making them suitable for high-demand airport operations.

“The new hydrogen station will serve as a hub for the safe and stable supply of fuel to hydrogen buses operating between Incheon International Airport and key destinations nationwide,” an SK Innovation E&S official said.

A completion ceremony was held Thursday at the Terminal 2 parking garage, attended by officials from Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon Metropolitan Council, Incheon International Airport Corp. and SK Innovation E&S.