SK E&S will begin work on a project to commercialize long-range liquefied hydrogen drones.
The introduction of revolutionary services such as drone-based delivery and drone taxi cabs is expected to be aided by hydrogen drone technology in the logistics and transportation sectors.
On April 29, SK E&S announced that it would press for joint research and development on liquefied hydrogen drones with seven Korean hydrogen drone companies and institutions at the 2021 Drone Show Korea held at BEXCO in Busan.
SK E&S wants to use its win-win growth fund to finance research and development of small and venture companies specializing in drones, after announcing an 18-trillion-won investment strategy to promote its hydrogen sector earlier this year.
Exens (drone manufacturing), the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hylium Industries (fuel cell power packs), and FineVT are among the companies that will join SK E&S. (software).
Hydrogen drones run on hydrogen with a high energy density. They can carry heavy objects despite their light weight. They’re attracting a lot of attention because they could one day include drone-based delivery services and drone taxi cabs.
SK E&S intends to promote the manufacture of liquefied hydrogen-powered drones because they have a high commercial potential. Since liquefied hydrogen has a higher storage density than gas hydrogen, it can help lighten fuel tanks. It has a one-hundredth of the storage pressure of coal. Furthermore, liquefied hydrogen gas is extremely stable. It enables drones to fly for an extended period of time.
By 2023, SK E&S plans to buy a plot of land on the grounds of the SK Incheon Petrochemical Complex in Incheon and construct a plant with a 30,000-ton annual production capacity. Drones carrying liquefied hydrogen are intended to serve as a catalyst for encouraging the early use of liquefied hydrogen.
