Climate Ministry Supports Green Companies' Expansion into China with Hydrogen and Battery Recycling Technologies

South Korean green companies are set to target the Chinese market by leveraging future green technologies such as hydrogen and battery recycling. Following the establishment of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the scope of cooperation in the energy and resource recycling sectors has expanded, enhancing Korea-China green industry collaboration.

The ministry announced on June 1 that it will operate a public-private joint delegation in Beijing and Tianjin from June 2 to June 5, in collaboration with the Korea Environmental Industry Association and 14 domestic green companies.

This delegation is part of a regular exchange event initiated under the 'Cheongcheon Plan,' which was signed by both countries in 2019. The Cheongcheon Plan integrates existing cooperation projects in the air quality sector and agreements from ministerial meetings to achieve tangible improvements in air quality.

Notably, this year marks the first event since the ministry's launch in October 2022, expanding the focus from water and air management to encompass the entire green industry, including energy and resource recycling.

The delegation will manage a Korean pavilion at the China International Environmental Protection Exhibition (CIEPEC 2026), the largest environmental exhibition in China, and will conduct one-on-one export consultations with local buyers. This initiative aims to support domestic green companies in securing export contracts and discovering new business opportunities.

Participating companies this year, including Bluewin and K-PAC Korea, will showcase green technologies in high demand in China, such as integrated solutions for eco-friendly hydrogen production and storage, hydrogen purification systems, battery recycling and resource recovery technologies, and solar panel recycling technologies. With China recently strengthening its carbon neutrality and circular economy policies, opportunities for market entry are expected to grow.

In addition to export consultations, the delegation will hold a Korea-China Environmental Industry Cooperation Forum to share environmental and energy policies and strategies for fostering the green industry in both countries. They will also visit Tianjin, which is promoting resource recycling and hydrogen-based green ports, to discuss cooperation in energy supply chains and resource security, as well as the potential for domestic companies to participate in demonstration projects.

Industry experts anticipate that as China expands its electric vehicle and battery industries and circular economy policies, the markets for battery recycling and hydrogen will grow rapidly, creating more business opportunities for domestic green companies. The focus of Korea-China environmental cooperation, which has primarily centered on addressing fine dust, is also shifting towards a broader range of green industries.

Jung Myung-kyu, head of the Green Industry Overseas Expansion Task Force at the ministry, stated, "The delegation's visit to China aims to explore comprehensive cooperation, from creating business opportunities through the exhibition to policy exchanges and building cooperation networks between Korea and China. We will actively support our green technologies to achieve tangible results in the Chinese market."