LOTTE, Sumitomo to adopt tech in race to procure clean hydrogen

Syzygy Plasmonics, LOTTE Chemical, and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) announced a joint development agreement to test a fully electric chemical reactor for clean hydrogen production.

The three companies announced the agreement at a ceremony at LOTTE World Tower in Seoul on 24 August 2022.

The reactor will be installed and brought online in the second half of 2023 at LOTTE Chemical HQ facilities in Ulsan. The agreement identifies LOTTE Chemical HQ and SCOA as early adopters of technology and reinforces their position as leading the effort to decarbonize South Korea.

Among other climate-focused goals, LOTTE is setting the stage to advance the hydrogen economy in the country. Plans include importing green ammonia that can be readily transported and stored before it is converted into clean hydrogen. The expectations are to generate 1.2 million tonnes of hydrogen per year domestically by 2030.

The traditional thermal “cracking” of ammonia uses high heat and pressure to convert it to hydrogen gas. The heat required to drive this process is achieved by burning fossil fuels, making ammonia cracking extremely carbon intensive. Using fully electric reactors allows hydrogen producers to reduce or eliminate their reliance on combustion as the energy source for processing ammonia.

SCOA first invested in Syzygy in 2019 and since that time, the companies have worked together to deploy its technologies. Syzygy has developed platform reactor technology that uses light from ultra-high-efficiency LEDs to power chemical reactions by removing the need for heat from burning fuel. Syzygy’s process offers a new way to electrify chemical manufacturing and eliminate emissions associated with powering chemical processes. The company has demonstrated its ability to efficiently split ammonia and produce hydrogen gas without combustion.

Development results show the technology will not only reduce the carbon footprint of hydrogen production, but it will also help reduce costs. The LOTTE Chemical HQ installation marks the first time the technology will be deployed at a commercial scale.

“Simply improving existing tech isn’t enough to reach the world’s decarbonization goals. Stopping climate change will require industries to reimagine what is possible,” said Syzygy CEO Trevor Best. “Today LOTTE Chemical HQ, SCOA, and Sumitomo Corporation Korea are taking a profound step forward, demonstrating through actions their commitment to help decarbonize Korea.”

“Partnering with best-in-class companies like Syzygy and LOTTE Chemical HQ is one of the important steps we are taking to make good on our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and lead the decarbonization of society,” said Shinichi Hasegawa, general manager of Energy Innovation Initiative of Americas at Sumitomo Corporation of Americas.