Amogy, a provider of ammonia-to-power solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), Posco Holdings, Seoul National University (SNU), and ABS.
The consortium will jointly explore the technological feasibility of an innovative offshore ammonia cracking solution aimed at delivering low-cost, accessible clean hydrogen fuel. The collaboration will focus on developing the required technology. HD KSOE will design the ammonia supply system and integrate it into the overall system, Amogy will provide its ammonia-cracking technology, SNU will contribute expertise in process design and simulation, Posco Holdings intends to harness its proprietary cracking process design technology to optimise the systems needed for ship application, and ABS will oversee certification of the design as the class society.
South Korea is actively working to establish a robust ammonia market and advance ammonia-based technologies as a key component of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions. Ammonia, a hydrogen carrier, is considered to offer a more cost-effective and convenient alternative to liquefied hydrogen due to its established storage and transport infrastructure. Additionally, with energy density 2.7 times greater than hydrogen, ammonia is emerging as a carbon-free fuel for the maritime industry.
Amogy’s ammonia-cracking technology unlocks the potential of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier by leveraging catalyst materials to crack ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen at lower reaction temperatures with high durability, reducing heating and maintenance requirements.
Kwang-pil Chang, HD KSOE CTO said: “With the increasing emphasis on obtaining affordable clean hydrogen from international sources for diverse domestic industries, we are highly optimistic about the results of this joint research focused on offshore ammonia cracking solutions. We are committed to collaborating with our partners to establish the most efficient and effective clean hydrogen supply chain.
Seonghoon Woo, CEO Amogy added: “We are excited to join forces with this esteemed consortium to develop an innovative offshore ammonia cracking solution. This partnership marks a pivotal advancement in leveraging ammonia to achieve net-zero emissions. Together, we are paving the way for cleaner marine fuel solutions and supporting South Korea’s ambitious decarbonisation objectives.”
Ju Woung Yoon, Posco Holdings head of Clean Hydrogen Research Centre said: “We strongly believe this collaboration will contribute to diversifying the supply of clean hydrogen required for decarbonisation in various industries, in addition to its application in shipping,”
Patrick Ryan, ABS SVP and CTO concluded: “Cracking ammonia offshore to produce hydrogen for industrial applications is a solution that has the potential to accelerate the energy transition in heavy industry. At ABS, we are proud to support this coalition with our deep technical expertise and safety focus to navigate the regulatory and class elements of the design.”
Image: Amogy’s NH3 cracking technology (source: Amogy)
