Hyundai Motor Group has opened HTWO ENERGY Cheongju, a waste-to-hydrogen (W2H) production and refuelling facility in South Korea that converts wastewater sludge into hydrogen for local transportation and community use.
Located in Cheongju, the facility integrates hydrogen production, compression, storage and vehicle refuelling at a single site using biogas generated from wastewater treatment.
Facility Produces Hydrogen From Wastewater Sludge
According to Hyundai Motor Group, the plant processes locally sourced wastewater sludge to produce hydrogen through a waste-to-hydrogen system.
The facility combines biogas upgrading, hydrogen production, compression, storage and refuelling infrastructure within one location.
Initial hydrogen production is approximately 500 kilograms per day, enough to supply fuel for around 100 fuel cell electric vehicles or 30 hydrogen-powered buses.
The company plans to increase production capacity to 2 metric tons per day by 2030.
Central Location Intended to Reduce Supply Costs
Hyundai Motor Group said Cheongju was selected because of its location in the center of the Korean Peninsula, allowing hydrogen to be produced closer to end users rather than being transported from coastal production facilities.
The city was also designated under South Korea’s Hydrogen City Creation Project in 2025, supporting the development of local hydrogen infrastructure.
Company Expands Waste-to-Hydrogen Projects
Hyundai Motor Group is also pursuing similar waste-to-hydrogen initiatives outside South Korea.
The company announced a project in Hong Kong in May 2026 that uses landfill gas to produce hydrogen for fuel cell buses.
A separate project in Indonesia is being developed to convert landfill biogas into hydrogen for local applications.
“HTWO ENERGY Cheongju demonstrates a circular economy model,” said Gang Hyun Seo, President and Head of Corporate Planning at Hyundai Motor Group.
He added that the company plans to develop locally adapted waste-to-hydrogen ecosystems in international markets.
HTWO, Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen business brand, provides technologies and services across the hydrogen value chain, including production, storage, transportation and end-use applications.
