Hyundai Motor Group has recently opened HTWO ENERGY Cheongju, its first Group-operated waste-to-hydrogen production and refueling facility, which currently produces approximately 500 kilograms of hydrogen per day. The plant converts biogas extracted from locally generated wastewater sludge into hydrogen for use within the city, cutting the transportation costs tied to hydrogen sourced from distant coastal areas. Hyundai Motor Group says HTWO ENERGY Cheongju establishes a localized production ecosystem it plans to replicate at additional sites in Korea and overseas. The company reports the plant’s output is enough to refuel around 100 all-new NEXO FCEVs or 30 hydrogen fuel cell buses each day.
Highlights
- HTWO ENERGY Cheongju is Hyundai Motor Group’s first Group-operated integrated waste-to-hydrogen (W2H) production and refueling facility
- The plant converts biogas from local wastewater sludge into roughly 500 kilograms of hydrogen daily, enough to fuel about 100 NEXO FCEVs or 30 hydrogen buses
- Hyundai plans to expand production capacity to 2 metric tons per day by 2030
- The Group is developing similar W2H ecosystems in Indonesia and Hong Kong as part of a broader localized hydrogen strategy
How HTWO ENERGY Cheongju Turns Waste Into Hydrogen
HTWO ENERGY Cheongju integrates the full waste-to-hydrogen production chain at a single site. The process starts with:
- Biogas Upgrading: purification systems remove hydrogen sulfide and moisture to produce high-quality biomethane
- Hydrogen Production: extraction facilities generate hydrogen through the reaction of biomethane and steam
- Carbon Capture and Utilization: liquefied CO2 production facilities capture and purify carbon dioxide generated during hydrogen production for industrial reuse
- Compression and Storage: high- and low-pressure systems prepare hydrogen for stable storage and distribution
- Refueling: an on-site station delivers stored hydrogen directly to fuel cell electric vehicles, including all-new NEXO FCEVs
The second floor of the facility’s office building houses the Hydrogen Academy, an exhibition space under HTWO — Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen brand and business platform — showcasing the W2H process and broader hydrogen ecosystem applications.
“HTWO ENERGY Cheongju demonstrates a circular economy model in which hydrogen is produced from locally generated wastewater sludge and utilized within the local community. Hyundai Motor Group is actively supporting Cheongju’s development as South Korea’s leading inland hydrogen city, and to scaling the locally self-sufficient hydrogen production model into global markets.” — Gang Hyun Seo, President and Head of Corporate Planning at Hyundai Motor Group
Why Is Cheongju a Strategic Hydrogen Hub?
Hyundai Motor Group established the W2H hub in Cheongju with support from South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, citing the city’s location near the center of the Korean peninsula as an advantage for hydrogen logistics and distribution. Cheongju’s role was reinforced in 2025, when the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport selected the city for the national Hydrogen City Creation Project. The company reports Cheongju is actively building out hydrogen infrastructure and has emerged as a leader in domestic hydrogen vehicle adoption.
Scaling Toward 2 Metric Tons a Day
Hyundai Motor Group intends to expand HTWO ENERGY Cheongju’s hydrogen production capacity from its initial 500 kilograms per day to 2 metric tons per day by 2030, aligning the increase with the buildout of Cheongju’s organic waste infrastructure. The Cheongju plant adds to Hyundai’s broader hydrogen buildout in Korea, which includes a new hydrogen fuel cell production facility under construction in Ulsan. The company says the added capacity is designed to support greater hydrogen self-reliance in Cheongju and the surrounding region.
Part of a Global Waste-to-Hydrogen Strategy
HTWO ENERGY Cheongju is one piece of Hyundai Motor Group’s broader push to build locally adapted W2H ecosystems worldwide, tailored to regional waste streams and energy infrastructure. In Hong Kong, a W2H project announced in May 2026 will use landfill gas to produce hydrogen for tourism buses and airport shuttle services. In Indonesia, a similar initiative announced in 2025 remains under development, converting landfill biogas into hydrogen and potentially informing future W2H projects across the ASEAN region.
The company says it will continue building tailored hydrogen ecosystems globally under HTWO, which the Group positions as an open platform spanning the hydrogen value chain from production through utilization.
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