Welcome to Ulsan, an industrial city that is now a pioneer in clean energy. Here, the Yuldong-With-U complex, consisting of 437 housing units, stands out with a unique feature: it is entirely powered by hydrogen fuel cells for heating and electricity.
These fuel cells, the size of shipping containers, are located on the rooftops and convert 51 kg of hydrogen per hour into 1.31 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to a month's worth of electricity for a typical household every hour! Additionally, the heat generated is recovered to heat water at 70 °C, which is then distributed to the apartments, maximizing energy use and minimizing waste.
The hydrogen is sourced from local industries via a 10-kilometer pipeline, recycling an often under-utilized resource. In June, the complex produced 840 megawatt-hours of energy, worth approximately 150 million won (about $108,000) at standard rates, but residents are currently enjoying this energy for free! This project aims to demonstrate that urban living can be entirely powered by clean energy while remaining affordable.
