The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sungwhan) announced that the 2026 hydrogen power generation bidding market will open at 7 p.m. on October 30.

The hydrogen power generation bidding market is a system for purchasing and supplying electricity generated using hydrogen or hydrogen-based compounds as fuel. It is divided into clean hydrogen power generation and general hydrogen power generation markets, depending on the type of fuel used. Only power generation facilities using fuels that meet Korea’s clean hydrogen certification standards (greenhouse gas emissions of no more than 4 kg CO2e per kg of hydrogen) are eligible to participate in the clean hydrogen power generation bidding market.

The clean hydrogen power generation bidding market aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting electricity generation using clean hydrogen, a carbon-free fuel. This year’s bidding volume is set at 500 GWh per year, with a contract period of 15 years. Power generation must commence by 2030, following a three-year project preparation period. In consideration of the construction period required for hydrogen co-firing and full-conversion power generation facilities, a grace period of up to three years will be granted before penalties for project delays are imposed. Preferred bidders are expected to be selected around June 2027 following a comprehensive assessment of price and non-price criteria, including clean hydrogen utilization grades, fuel supply security, and contributions to industry and the economy.

In line with the government’s policy to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2040, coal-ammonia co-firing projects will be excluded from eligibility for the clean hydrogen power generation bidding market starting this year. The government will also introduce a new first-stage assessment* based solely on non-price criteria and increase the weighting of non-price criteria from 40% to 50%. As a result, non-price factors, including contributions to industry and the economy and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, are expected to play a greater role in the selection process.

* (Previously) Comprehensive evaluation based on price (60%) and non-price criteria (40%)(Reformed) (1st stage) Selection of up to 1.5 times the target capacity based solely on non-price criteria → (2nd stage) Comprehensive evaluation based on price (50%) and non-price criteria (50%)

The general hydrogen power generation bidding market aims to promote the deployment of distributed power sources. This year’s bidding volume is set at 930 GWh per year, with a contract period of 20 years. Power generation must commence by 2029, following a two-year project preparation period. This year’s bidding market has strengthened its environmental assessment criteria, including the introduction of a new evaluation indicator for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) plans. Preferred bidders are expected to be selected around December this year following a comprehensive assessment of price and non-price criteria, including impacts on the power grid and contributions to industry and the economy.

For further details, including the bidding notice, refer to the Korea Power Exchange Low-Carbon Central Contract Integrated Platform (kchps.kmos.kr), where the notice will be published at 7 p.m. on October 30.

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com