UNIST scientists test new solvents aimed at CO₂ capture and clean energy.Credit: UNIST
For all the enthusiasm surrounding clean energy, countries are still trying to effectively tailor renewable solutions to their resources.
In South Korea, where less than 10% of electricity comes from renewables, the gap is more pronounced due to regulatory challenges, limited suitable land, and infrastructure constraints.
“There are a lot of promising ideas,” explains Professor Hankwon Lim, a chemical engineer at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), located amid one of South Korea’s key industrial hubs. “But not enough that are ready to be scaled.”
For example, green hydrogen is emerging as a key plank of the clean energy transition. Produced by splitting water using renewable electricity, it emits only water vapour when used, making it one of the cleanest energy sources available.
But it’s hard to make it economical, says Lim1. Today, more than 80% of hydrogen production comes from natural gas or coal, emitting gigatonnes of CO₂ annually — a figure that rose 2.5% in 2024. And Lim warns that early technology adopters may rely on hydrogen that is not truly green.
At UNIST, researchers are developing rigorous testing systems to better evaluate which clean technologies are actually ready for use. Rather than solely relying on commonly used ‘Technology Readiness Levels’, which often overlook market, regulatory, and environmental factors, Lim’s team uses a more holistic approach. They incorporate AI-driven analysis and process simulations that assess everything from the energy use in chemical processes to future economic scenarios. Life cycle assessments also evaluate environmental impact — from raw material extraction through production to disposal.
At UNIST, industry professionals learn how to optimize green innovation.Credit: UNIST
Beyond hydrogen hype
Their analysis has led the team to look at green ammonia as a potential enabler for hydrogen technologies. Ammonia, commonly used in cleaners and fertilizers, contains hydrogen, but is easier to store and transport than hydrogen gas.
In 2020, Lim and colleagues published a study on a novel method to produce ammonia using electricity and nitric oxide, making it more energy-efficient and potentially cheaper2.
UNIST is also collaborating with South Korean industry to explore importing green ammonia from Australia, leveraging the country’s abundant solar and wind resources. Once in South Korea, the ammonia can be broken down to produce hydrogen. However, the logistics are complex, and Lim’s team is modelling many economic and environmental variables to assess feasibility.
At UNIST, researchers advance next-generation laser and photonic systems that support a wide range of future technological and energy innovations.Credit: UNIST
Clean energy enabler
To reduce emissions while green hydrogen and other technologies scale up, the team is also developing a system that harnesses chemical reactions induced by mechanical force to capture and convert CO23.
UNIST is also offering tailored degree programmes for industry professionals, helping them apply advanced clean energy modelling. “Many company employees join UNIST classrooms as students and then go back to facilitate commercial research and development projects,” explains UNIST Vice President Sung Chul Bae.
Collaborations with industry are also common, with companies such as Samsung and Hyundai jointly leading projects with UNIST researchers to develop lithium-metal batteries and autonomous shipbuilding technologies.
At the same time, the university is tackling research on emissions in challenging industries, and developing AI-powered battery diagnostics to enhance safety and reuse. “We’re here to help industry make smart choices,” notes Bae. “But we’re also here to help address the climate crisis.”
Find out how researchers and industry are collaborating for a greener future at UNIST.
