SeAH Besteel Becomes First in Korea to Secure Technologies for Two Core Hydrogen Infrastructure Materials

SeAH Besteel Becomes First in Korea to Secure Technologies for Two Core Hydrogen Infrastructure Materials

• SeAH Besteel has proven its comprehensive technological capabilities in the hydrogen sector by securing proprietary manufacturing technologies for two core infrastructure materials.
• This milestone establishes a robust, independent alternative to conventional supply chains, actively driving the expansion of the new hydrogen materials market.
• Moving forward, the company will advance toward full-scale commercialization following rigorous demo-plant verifications, accelerating the deployment of high-pressure pipeline networks and stabilizing the broader supply chain.

SEOUL, South Korea, June 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SeAH Besteel is set to drive its expansion into the new hydrogen infrastructure materials market, having secured manufacturing technologies for two core materials for the first time in Korea.

This milestone was achieved through joint R&D projects led by the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), in which SeAH Besteel participated alongside the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) and other organizations. Through this collaborative effort, SeAH Besteel successfully developed manufacturing technologies for high-pressure seamless pipe materials for hydrogen transport and hydrogen storage alloy materials for non-mechanical compressors. As the first company in Korea to independently secure both technologies, SeAH Besteel plans to advance to full-scale commercialization following verification processes at a demo plant scale.

The newly developed 100-bar^[1] class high-pressure seamless pipe material is a critical component for establishing mid- to long-distance pipeline networks to safely transport gaseous hydrogen. It was developed as a high-strength material with a yield strength of 485 MPa (API 5L X70)^[2], maximizing hydrogen embrittlement resistance to ensure its metallic properties are maintained even in hydrogen environments. While conventional hydrogen pipeline networks—such as those in Korea—operate at low pressures below 20 bar, limiting large-scale transport, SeAH Besteel’s 100-bar class seamless pipe technology overcomes this capacity constraint. This advancement is expected to serve as a competitive alternative to conventional materials, significantly enhancing high-pressure pipeline networks and stabilizing the broader supply chain.

SeAH Besteel has also secured manufacturing technology for a hydrogen storage alloy that can efficiently compress and discharge liquefied hydrogen at refueling stations. Generally, hydrogen refueling stations rely on mechanical compressors equipped with motor pumps to charge hydrogen. However, mechanical compressors have been considered a major obstacle to expanding hydrogen infrastructure, as their maintenance and installation costs account for as much as 48% of the total cost of building a refueling station.

A representative of SeAH Besteel, said:

Securing these core special steel technologies is a major leap forward in strengthening supply chain resilience and improving the economic viability of building hydrogen infrastructure,

“Following thorough verification and full-scale commercialization, as a leading special steel materials provider, we will actively drive the expansion of the global hydrogen ecosystem.”

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SeAH Besteel Becomes First in Korea to Secure Technologies for Two Core Hydrogen Infrastructure Materials, source