On the 30th of last month, fuel cell specialist Hogreen Air held a groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of a factory in the Gwangju Economic Free Zone, Energy Valley (Smart Energy Industry Complex). This move marks a significant step in the company's efforts to grow as a leading enterprise in the hydrogen industry.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Hogreen Air CEO Hong Seong-ho, Members of the National Assembly Lee Yong-bin and Yoon Young-deok, Gwangju City Council Members Im Mi-ran and Lee Myung-no, Gwangju Economic Free Zone Chief Kim Jin-chul, Tony Clampson, Minister Counselor at the British Embassy, and David Woolhouse, CEO of Intelligent Energy (IE), a key partner in the hydrogen industry, along with domestic and international clients and partners such as Wiseberry Labs from the UK and LS Electric.

Hogreen Air started as a drone-specialized company in Gwangju, gaining recognition for its high technological capabilities by successfully controlling a drone from Silicon Valley in the United States, approximately 9,042 km away, in October 2021. The company expanded its business internationally by forming a partnership with Intelligent Energy (IE), a global leading company in the hydrogen fuel cell sector, during the development of hydrogen drones. After signing a distribution agreement in 2020, Hogreen Air established a branch in Japan this year, further expanding its business scope.

Hogreen Air plans to invest 15 billion won in Energy Valley's Docheon Industrial Complex, targeting groundbreaking in December and completion in June of next year. The investment aims to produce 100 kW-class fuel cells and advance into the production of fuel cells for mobility applications, including drones, aircraft, vehicles, and ships.

Additionally, the company plans to commercialize fuel cell systems for small and medium-sized hydrogen power plants and focus on the liquefaction of hydrogen to enhance the efficiency and safety of fuel cells.

On the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony, Gwangju City, the British Embassy in South Korea, IE, and Hogreen Air signed a business cooperation agreement to establish a "Taskforce for the Formation of the Hydrogen Industry Ecosystem by the UK Government and Gwangju Metropolitan City." The agreement aims to foster mutual cooperation for the development of Gwangju's hydrogen industry ecosystem and the advancement of fuel cells.

Hogreen Air's CEO Hong Seong-ho expressed the company's vision, stating, "Through clean energy, we will create a better life and a greener future where everyone plays a central role."

Kim Jin-chul, Chief of Gwangju Economic Free Zone, commented, "It is gratifying to see a leading fuel cell specialist, a key player in one of Gwangju's 11 representative industries, establish a foothold in the economic free zone. We will strive to attract more related companies, contributing to the development and ecosystem formation of Gwangju's hydrogen industry."

Note: Company and individual names are romanized based on Korean pronunciation.