Charges EVs with Eco-friendly Electricity
SK Energy opened Korea’s first "Energy Super Station" at SK Bakmi Gas Station in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, in February. The station generates eco-friendly electricity through solar and fuel cell facilities to charge electric vehicles.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade announced in June 2021 a strategy to promote distributed energy generation and use as a measure to curtail carbon emissions.
At an Energy Super Station, SK Energy generates electricity by using 20.6 kW solar facilities and 300 kW fuel cells. A fuel cell generates electric power through chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the air. Unlike batteries, it does not require charging because it receives hydrogen and oxygen from the outside.
“Fuel cells do not have an electricity accumulation function, so there is no possibility of heat generation due to overcharging,” explained Lee Seung-yup, head of SK Energy Solutions & Platform Promotion Team.
Solar panels are installed on the roof of the Energy Station building. SK Energy is stably producing 2,500 MWh of electricity, even in a space in Seoul with heavy foot traffic. This volume can charge an electric vehicle about 43,000 times.
SK Energy aims to expand energy stations that utilize distributed power generation nationwide. “We will build about 3,000 Energy Super Stations all over the country, thereby contributing to Korea’s carbon neutrality and the promotion of a hydrogen economy in Korea,” said Oh Jong-hoon, CEO of P&M CIC.