▶ Develops liquefied hydrogen storage tanks and a vacuum insulation system, securing Approval in Principle ▶ Maintains vacuum state at extremely low temperature (–253℃), enabling large-scale liquefied hydrogen transport without loss ▶ Collaborates with global firms on hydrogen transportation value chain, “leading hydrogen storage and transport by sea”   HD Hyundai accelerates hydrogen commercialization by successfully developing liquefied hydrogen (LH₂) storage tanks for ships and a vacuum insulation system. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), a shipbuilding intermediate holding company of HD Hyundai, announced on the 13th that it had obtained Approval in Principle (AiP) for its vacuum insulation system for LH₂ storage tanks from four major classification societies: Lloyd’s Register (LR), the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), and the Korean Register (KR). Last month, the company also received approval for its LH₂ storage tank welding procedure specification (WPS) from DNV. With this, HD Hyundai became the first company in South Korea to secure expertise in material selection, verification, and welding techniques required for LH₂ storage tanks. Hydrogen is widely recognized as a key clean energy source, but its commercialization has been hindered by the lack of advanced technology to design and construct large LH₂ storage tanks for ships. To build such tanks, standardized welding procedures and evaluation criteria using special materials are essential. However, no formal regulatory guidelines existed until now. Moreover, reducing the boil-off rate of LH₂, over nine times higher than LNG, necessitates a vacuum-insulated tank. Nonetheless, the process of achieving this vacuum involves significant time with existing technology, presenting challenges in scaling up tank sizes. HD KSOE tackled these challenges by partnering with DNV in a joint development project in August last year. The company developed detailed standards for LH₂ storage tanks, including welding procedures and evaluation criteria, securing approval from classification societies. HD KSOE has also developed its own vacuum insulation system. This development enables LH₂ storage tanks to sustain a vacuum state even at –253℃ during ship operations, ensuring the secure transport of significant volumes of LH₂ without loss. In addition, the time required to create a vacuum has been dramatically shortened, reducing the process from months to days. A representative from HD KSOE stated, “The transition to a hydrogen-based society is an inevitable trend. HD KSOE will continue to lead advancements in hydrogen transport and storage technology by sea, accelerating the path toward hydrogen commercialization.” Meanwhile, HD KSOE, aiming to secure a competitive edge in the global hydrogen transportation market, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in February 2024 with Woodside Energy, Hyundai Glovis, and the Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to collaborate on the development of the LH₂ transportation value chain.

▶ Four vessels, including a frigate, officially begin construction at Peru’s SIMA Shipyard, with deliveries starting in 2026 ▶ Peru’s President Dina Boluarte, Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Navy leadership attended the launch ceremony ▶ "It is a milestone for K-Defense in Latin America. We will ensure project success through cutting-edge technology and trust” As 2025 begins, K-Defense's expansion into Latin America has entered a new phase. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) held a launch ceremony for the Peru Warship Project on January 10 at SIMA, a state-run shipyard in Peru. The ceremony marked the start of construction for four vessels: a frigate, an offshore patrol vessel, and an amphibious landing ship, which will serve as key strategic assets for the Peruvian Navy. The event included steel-cutting and keel-laying ceremonies, signaling the official commencement of the build. Peru’s President Dina Boluarte, Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén Olaya, Defense Minister Walter Astudillo, Navy Commander Luis Jose Polar Figari, and other senior government officials attended the event, alongside Joo Won-ho, head of the Naval & Special Ships Business Unit at HD HHI. These vessels will be constructed locally at SIMA Shipyard, leveraging HD HHI’s advanced design expertise and shipbuilding know-how. The first delivery is scheduled for 2026, with subsequent vessels following. The Peru Warship Project stems from a defense export contract worth approximately KRW 640.6 billion, awarded to HD HHI in April 2024. The project, achieved through collaboration between the Korean government and private enterprises under the "Team Korea" initiative, is seen as a model case for K-Defense's global expansion. "This marks a very important milestone in the history of Peru's shipbuilding industry," said Peru‘s President Dina Boluarte. "We expect this project with HD HHI to promote the modernization of the Peruvian Navy and contribute to the nation's economic growth." “This ceremony marks the beginning of K-Defense’s entry into Latin America,” said Joo Won-ho, head of the Naval & Special Ships Business Unit at HD HHI. “We are committed to driving this project to success through technological excellence and trust, strengthening defense cooperation between Korea and Peru.” In a move to deepen bilateral defense collaboration, HD HHI, in partnership with the University of Ulsan, will host 12 Peruvian SIMA shipyard engineers for a two-week Naval Architecture Training Program starting January 13. The company also plans to enhance local shipbuilding capabilities by expanding cooperation with Peruvian equipment suppliers. Looking ahead, HD HHI aims to establish a global network of defense hubs through its Pan-Pacific Belt Vision. This strategy involves forming partnerships, building localized ship construction systems, and standardizing technology transfer packages across key regions, including Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

▶ Signed MOU for engine plant construction with Jeollabuk-do & Gunsan-si, its largest investment since being incorporated into HD Hyundai; ▶ Investment decision to expand defense & power generation engine business units and preempt the electrification market; ▶ Growth plan for cumulative engine business sales to reach KRW 4.5 trillion by 2035 HD Hyundai Infracore has invested KRW 116.8 billion in Gunsan to diversify its engine business portfolio and leverage new growth engines. On the 26th (Thursday), HD Hyundai Infracore announced that it has signed an ‘Investment Agreement (MOU) for Constructing Engine and Battery Pack Manufacturing Facilities’ with Jeollabuk-do, Gunsan-si, and the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation at the Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province Office. In attendance at the event were key officials including Jeollabuk-do Governor Kwan-young Kim, Gunsan-si Deputy Mayor Won-sik Shin, National Assemblyman Young-dae Shin, Jeollabuk-do Regional Headquarters Director Jong-bae Park of Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, and HD Hyundai Infracore President Seung-hyun Oh. Through this agreement, HD Hyundai Infracore plans to invest KRW 116.8 billion within its 62,700㎡ Gunsan plant site for constructing a defense and ultra-large power generation engine production plant and a battery packaging plant by the end of 2027 and establish mass production facilities. Related public authorities, including from Jeollabuk-do and Gunsan-si municipalities, will cooperate in providing administrative support such as construction support and regional investment subsidies to ensure seamless factory construction. With its largest facility investment since being incorporated into HD Hyundai, HD Hyundai Infracore will begin mass production of K2 tank defense engines, ultra-large power generation engines, commercial vehicle and industrial battery packs in the second half of 2026 at the earliest after completing the new plant construction. The new Gunsan plant can produce 120 tank defense engines per year, 1,250 ultra-large power generation engines with a maximum power output of 3 MW, and 880 MWh battery packs that can be installed in nearly 3,000 electric buses. HD Hyundai Infracore has secured a foothold for preempting the future construction and industrial machinery electrification market by establishing engine and battery pack production facilities in Gunsan, besides its existing construction machinery production facilities. The company plans to induce and meet tank engine orders for exports to Poland and Turkey and additional defense engine orders from this location, and has diversified its product portfolio from small and medium-sized engines produced at the existing Incheon plant to ultra-large engines to be produced in Gunsan. The company currently supplies battery packs to Doosan Bobcat through the Incheon plant, and plans to install battery packs in electric trucks to be released by Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicles to the market. President Oh Seung-hyun of HD Hyundai Infracore said, “This investment decision is meant to diversify the profit structure of the engine business unit and leverage future growth engines,” and added, “With this investment, we expect to generate cumulative sales of over KRW 4.5 trillion over the next 10 years.”