On the 21st, Seoul – HiRium Inc., Korea’s specialist in liquid hydrogen technology, announced that it has been selected as the lead agency for a joint Korean‑German R&D project involving seven institutions, including Fraunhofer and Energy Infra Corp. The government‑funded program, worth about KRW 11 billion (≈US$8.5 million), will be funded with roughly KRW 10 billion and run from July 2031 for five years, aiming not only to develop a liquid hydrogen tank but also to industrialise the technology and enter the European market.
The project team will develop an ultra‑lightweight liquid hydrogen storage system suitable for drones and UAM (urban air mobility) aircraft. To achieve a mass efficiency of over 30% and a daily boil‑off rate under 12%, they will integrate carbon‑fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), 2‑D nanocomposite coatings, high‑temperature multilayer heat‑exchangers, and other advanced technologies. HiRium will handle system integration, tank design, and the production of heat‑exchangers for the wall, while Fraunhofer’s three research labs will focus on composite material design, manufacturing process automation, non‑destructive testing, and AI‑based quality assurance.
In particular, a field demonstration project is linked to the German gas pipeline network. HiRium has signed MOUs with Thyssengas, GWI, and two other entities; it will use liquid hydrogen drones to detect gas leaks and perform infrastructure inspections over 120 km in the Sibeong‑Gu area, demonstrating long‑range unmanned inspection performance. The demonstration results are expected to pave a way for expanding the application of the network (about 4,400 km) operated by Thyssengas.
By combining its domestic expertise in liquid hydrogen storage and ultra‑low‑temperature technology with Germany’s strengths in materials, manufacturing, and testing, HiRium aims to secure a foothold in the European market and target global business in next‑generation mobility sectors such as drone, UAM, and air transport. CEO Seong‑young Kim said that “the partnership connects research‑development through product development to certification, field demonstration, and commercialisation” and forecasts about KRW 62 billion (≈US$49 million) revenue over five years.