Ulsan Finds Future Industry Solutions in China... Speeds Up Offshore Wind, Hydrogen and AI Transformation

Moves to Establish a Floating Offshore Wind Supply Chain Council

Explores Links Between Next-Generation Water Electrolysis Demonstration and Urban AI Transformation

Ulsan City is moving to secure future growth engines by applying cases of offshore wind power, green hydrogen, and artificial intelligence transformation observed at industrial sites in China to its regional industrial policies.

Ulsan City said it conducted visits to industrial sites and policy research in Zhongshan and Yangjiang in Guangdong Province, China, and Shenzhen from November 5 to 8, and will develop follow-up measures focused on floating offshore wind power, green hydrogen, and urban artificial intelligence transformation.

On November 5 and 6, at the invitation of Mingyang Group, the city visited Zhongshan and Yangjiang to examine floating offshore wind power technology, wind farms, and production bases. It also met with the mayors of both cities to discuss ways to foster the offshore wind industry, build manufacturing and port infrastructure, and support businesses. On November 7, in Shenzhen, officials took a ride in a Baidu autonomous taxi and reviewed examples of urban autonomous driving services.

Ulsan City plans to link the findings of the study to its policies for making the city a "Northeast Asian energy logistics hub" and an "urban artificial intelligence transformation connection hub (AX NEXUS Ulsan)."

In the floating offshore wind power sector, the city will work to establish a "regional company supply chain council" involving power project developers, local companies, and relevant organizations. It plans to share progress on the 3.5 GW project being developed off the coast of Ulsan, as well as supply chain demand, and identify opportunities for local companies in shipbuilding, offshore plants, and equipment manufacturing to participate. It will also discuss joint projects involving port use, technology development, and workforce training.

Offshore wind power and green hydrogen will be fostered as key industries under the Northeast Asian energy logistics hub policy. The plan is to expand the city's industrial base by combining its existing energy industry, centered on petrochemicals, and its storage and logistics infrastructure with the Ulsan New Port energy hub, floating offshore wind power, water electrolysis, and the hydrogen industry.

Hydrogen applications are also being expanded across urban, land-based, maritime, and power-generation sectors. The city is strengthening its hydrogen city infrastructure, fuel-cell power generation, and hydrogen supply and refueling systems, while broadening hydrogen use to industrial and logistics equipment such as hydrogen-powered tractors, forklifts, and medium- and large-sized excavators. At sea, it is pursuing the development of hydrogen engines and fuel-cell technologies for ships and submarines. In power generation, it is developing and demonstrating technology for co-firing hydrogen at a 50% rate in 300 MW-class gas turbines. The city also aims to build 250 MW of fuel-cell power generation capacity by 2030.

Ulsan is also strengthening its manufacturing base for key water electrolysis and fuel-cell equipment. Hyundai Motor is building a plant in Ulsan to produce next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell systems, with an annual capacity of 30,000 units, targeting completion in 2027. The plant will also produce PEM water electrolysis systems.

Ulsan City is also considering a plan to consolidate research, evaluation, and demonstration functions for next-generation water electrolysis technologies at its existing power-to-gas (P2G) demonstration facility. The current P2G demonstration building has alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis equipment, each with a capacity of 500 kW, for a total of 1 MW. The plan is to add demonstration infrastructure for anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology, creating an environment where key water electrolysis technologies can be developed and tested in one location.

Cases of autonomous driving and manufacturing innovation observed in Shenzhen will inform the city's urban and industrial artificial intelligence transformation policies. Officials reviewed Baidu's autonomous taxi operations, Shenzhen's safety management and commercial licensing systems for autonomous vehicles, and the city's full electrification of its bus fleet.

The city also examined cases involving AI-based automated inspection and equipment management, as well as the introduction of unmanned work areas, at automotive parts company Valeo. The case was presented as having increased productivity by about 60% in some processes. Ulsan plans to assess whether this approach can be applied to its key industries, including automotive, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals. In particular, the city is focusing on the potential of "heavy-duty AI" tailored to heavy industries, including automation of hazardous work, AI-based quality control, and prediction of equipment failures.

Ulsan City will share the findings of the study with relevant departments, organizations, and companies and continue follow-up discussions focused on supply chain cooperation with local companies, expanding the foundations for green hydrogen production and use, consolidating water electrolysis demonstration facilities, and incorporating autonomous driving operations into urban transportation policies.

Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook said, "It is important to link floating offshore wind power with Ulsan's shipbuilding, offshore plant, port and logistics, and hydrogen industries and develop it into a new growth engine. We will expand the foundation for local companies to participate and for cooperation in the green hydrogen industry."

He added, "We will look for ways to apply Shenzhen's examples of autonomous driving and artificial intelligence transformation in manufacturing to urban transportation and industrial sites in Ulsan."

Ulsan City Hall

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.