– Ten companies were selected for the finals in three categories (hydrogen production, storage & transport, and utilization)
– Now in its fourth year, the event fosters the discovery of innovative technologies in the hydrogen sector and facilitates industry exchanges.
– Final presentations are scheduled for the end of August, with award winners announced and recognized on the opening day of H2 MEET 2024
– H2 MEET 2024 will be held from September 25 (Wednesday) to September 27 (Friday) in Goyang City, KINTEX.
The H2 MEET Organizing Committee (Chairman Kang Nam-hoon, President of the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association) announced on the 21st the top 10 companies advancing to the finals of the ‘H2 Innovation Award’, an initiative to discover innovative technologies and excellent companies in the hydrogen sector both domestically and internationally and to promote industry exchanges as the global hydrogen industry expands.
The H2 Innovation Award is a comprehensive technology presentation and awards ceremony that involves large, medium, and small enterprises and startups with hydrogen-related technologies. The event includes presentations, exhibitions, and networking. It is hosted by the H2 MEET Organizing Committee and co-organized by H2KOREA, the Korea Institute for Industrial Technology Evaluation and Planning, and the Korea Energy Agency.
The entries are categorized into three sectors: hydrogen production, storage and transportation, and utilization. Awards are given to technological companies that have made the most innovative products in each category.
This year’s finalists announced include:
1. Hydrogen Production:
– UtilityGlobal (H2GenTM Reactor)
– Carbon Value (RPB-based CO2 capture system)
– TechCross (Renewable energy direct-coupled alkaline water electrolysis system)
2. Hydrogen Storage and Transportation:
– Mt.H Control Valves (High-pressure hydrogen dispenser flow control valve)
– UNID btplus (Hydrogen gas detection product HyFinder)
– Iljin Hysolus (Type4 hydrogen transport tube trailer)
– Emerson Korea (Liquid hydrogen safety valve)
3. Hydrogen Utilization:
– Energyn (Low strain rate tensile tester for hydrogen embrittlement evaluation)
– EFlow (1.5 kW hydrogen fuel cell electric generator)
– Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (Direct injection hydrogen engine)
The H2 Innovation Award, now in its fourth year since starting in 2021, has previously honored technologies such as POSCO Mobility Solution’s ‘precision rolling and forming manufacturing technology for fuel cell separators’ in 2021, Energyn’s ‘high-pressure hydrogen pressure vessels’ in 2022, and MiCoPower’s ‘high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell’ in 2023.
Finalists for the 2023 H2 Innovation Award | Photo provided by H2 MEET Organizing Committee
After receiving applications from companies starting July 1st, the Organizing Committee selected the final ten companies through preliminary reviews. The judging, conducted by hydrogen specialists, focused on innovation, technical merit, marketability, and potential for development. A final presentation will be held on August 29th, selecting one Grand Prize winner, three Best Technology winners, and three Excellence winners regardless of category. The awards ceremony will occur during the H2 MEET 2024 exhibition on September 25th at KINTEX.
Award benefits include a Grand Prize (one company, 10 million won and a trophy), Best Technology Award (one company per category, total of three companies, 5 million won and a trophy each), and Excellence Award (two companies per category, total six companies, certificate and a 2 million won discount on next year’s booth fee), along with outdoor and floor advertising at the exhibition, and installation of award-winning promotional materials throughout the market.
An Organizing Committee representative stated, “With global interest in carbon neutrality and hydrogen energy, competition is intensifying as efforts to grow the hydrogen industry continue. The H2 Innovation Award provides a great opportunity to accelerate the growth of the domestic hydrogen industry and create global business opportunities by discovering excellent technologies and facilitating technological exchanges.”
The ‘H2 MEET 2024’ will be held from September 25th (Wed) to September 27th (Fri) at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. This year, it will be held jointly with H2WORLD, Korea’s first hydrogen-specialized exhibition, aiming to grow into the premier global hydrogen economy industry exhibition. It is expected to be an opportunity to experience the potential for growth in South Korea’s hydrogen economy ecosystem.
Concurrently, the 2024 Secondary Battery Materials, Parts, and Equipment Exhibition (K- BATTERY SHOW 2024) and the 2024 International Heating Air Conditioning Refrigeration and Fluid Exhibition Korea (2024 HARFKO) will also be held at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1.