In Partnership with U.S. and Japanese Companies
Lotte Group joined hands with U.S. and Japanese companies to develop ammonia photolysis technology for the first time in the world.
The company's two affiliates, Lotte Chemical and Lotte Fine Chemical, signed an agreement with Syzygy Plasmonics of the United States and Sumitomo Corp. of Japan on Aug. 24 to jointly develop a method to obtain hydrogen by decomposing ammonia.
The four companies will verify technology to produce clean hydrogen for mixed or pure hydrogen supply for gas turbine power generation, and technology for producing high-purity hydrogen that can be supplied to hydrogen fuel cells/hydrogen charging stations.
Syzygy is an American start-up that has expertise in designing and manufacturing photocatalytic reactors. It will be in charge of manufacturing a photolysis reactor and photocatalysts. Lotte Chemical is responsible for the design and installation of technology verification facilities, while Lotte Fine Chemical will be tasked with the supply of ammonia and the operation of the production facilities. Sumitomo Corp. will transport the reactor and photocatalysts.
Ammonia is attracting attention as a carrier of hydrogen and a fuel. The demonstration scale of the project is 1,000 cubic meters per hour, which is equivalent to producing about 2 tons of hydrogen per day when converted to hydrogen weight. It is the world’s largest demonstration project. The technology facilitates continuous production of hydrogen in large quantities.
Lotte Chemical aims to produce 1.2 million tons of clean hydrogen by investing 6 trillion won by 2030 and achieve sales of 5 trillion won in this business.