Syzygy Plasmonics and Lotte Chemical have commissioned and completed performance testing of the “world’s largest” all-electric ammonia cracking system in Ulsan, South Korea.
Converting ammonia into hydrogen at scale will be ideal for importing regions such as Korea, which aims to import around 1.96 million tonnes per year of clean hydrogen by 2030.
When the ammonia arrives on location, Syzygy’s ammonia e-cracking system can crack it into low-carbon hydrogen. A statement released by Syzygy Plasmonics today said the successful testing of the technology “sets the stage for opening the hydrogen economy.”
© Syzygy Plasmonics
With shipping and logistical support from Sumitomo Corporation Group, Lotte installed Syzygy’s Rigel reactor cell at the facility in Ulsan, completed plant construction in early November 2024 and field testing in December 2024.
With Syzygy providing the onsite and remote support for plant commissioning through the duration of the test, the Rigel cell “immediately hit desired performance levels and operated flawlessly throughout all phases of the trial.”
The companies stated that the operation “eclipsed previous performance.” By manipulating flow rate and light intensity during separate testing phases, the cell produced 11kWh/kg, 81% efficiency, 99% conversion and 290kg/d of hydrogen.
The press statement added, “Data from this trial gives Syzygy a clear pathway to achieve 8kWh/kg of hydrogen at the cell level in future Rigel cell designs.”
Dr. Suman Khatiwada, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at Syzygy, believes this is the “breakthrough that Korea, Japan and Eastern Europe have been waiting for.”
Khatiwada added, “They now have an efficient, proven way to crack imported ammonia for hydrogen.”
Hans Shin, the Project Manager at Lotte Chemical, said, “Over the coming years we plan to work with Syzygy to identify a good application for building a small commercial plant together, which will be a big step towards meeting South Korea’s growing hydrogen needs.”
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