The world’s first 'hydrogen apartment' block has been unveiled in Ulsan, South Korea. The 437-household Yuldong-With-U complex gets 100% of its heat and electricity from hydrogen fuel cells.

The process has now run for a month and now the city will soon make its decision to price heat and power generated by the hydrogen.

In June, the Yuldong-With-U apartments generated 840MWh of power, which in conventional utility bills would have cost 150 million won (about €100,000). 

Method is claimed to be the most cost-effective

The apartment was powered by the Yuldong Combined Heat and Power Plant, which is located only 200 metres from the complex.

The plant used hydrogen as a byproduct and received it via a 10km pipeline from nearby industries.

Using hydrogen, the plant generated heat and power with reduced environmental impact. The method is claimed to be the most cost-effective compared to other process.

The three container sized fuel cells, placed at the complex’s rooftop, generated 1.31 megawatts of electricity from 51kgs of hydrogen per hour. This is enough to supply a month of electricity to four person households every hour.

The process also generated heat, which is captured and stored in a thermal accumulator that has a 40-tonne capacity. Then, heated water reaches temperatures up to 70C and then piped directly into homes for heating, ensuring efficient use of all energy produced, reported FuelCellWorks. 

Fuel cells have several benefits over conventional combustion-based technologies currently used in many power plants and vehicles. Fuel cells can operate at higher efficiencies than combustion engines and can convert the chemical energy in the fuel directly to electrical energy with efficiencies capable of exceeding 60%, according to US Department of Energy.

Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell consists of two electrodes – a negative electrode (or anode) and a positive electrode (or cathode) – sandwiched around an electrolyte, said the department. 

How does it work?

A fuel, such as hydrogen, is fed to the anode, and air is fed to the cathode. In a hydrogen fuel cell, a catalyst at the anode separates hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons, which take different paths to the cathode. 

The electrons go through an external circuit, creating a flow of electricity. The protons migrate through the electrolyte to the cathode, where they unite with oxygen and the electrons to produce water and heat.

Cost-effective electricity

An official from the Ulsan City maintained that there are plans to amend the Electricity Business Act in the country to give residents direct access to cost-effective electricity. However, due to regulatory issues, the hydrogen-generated electricity is currently sold to the Korea Electric Power Corporation, according to FuelCellWorks. 

The plan is to entirely realise the vision of 100% carbon neutral residential complex for eco-friendly living in urban environments.