Syzygy Plasmonics and Lotte Chemical have successfully commissioned and completed performance testing of the world’s largest all-electric ammonia cracking system in Ulsan, South Korea. With logistical support from Sumitomo Corporation of Americas and Sumitomo Corporation Korea, this milestone marks a significant advancement in hydrogen transportation technology. The Ulsan installation is the second deployment of Syzygy’s Rigel™ reactor cell, following its initial implementation at the company’s demonstration facility in Houston, Texas.

Building on over 2,500 hours of successful testing in Houston, the Ulsan trials further validate ammonia as a viable hydrogen carrier. This breakthrough paves the way for energy-importing regions, such as South Korea, to establish clean ammonia import systems, addressing key challenges in the global hydrogen economy.

Low-carbon hydrogen is widely recognized as a crucial tool for reducing global emissions, yet its transportation remains complex and costly due to the need for compression, liquefaction, and storage at extremely low temperatures (-253°C/-423°F). A more practical solution involves converting hydrogen into low-carbon ammonia by combining it with nitrogen in regions abundant in renewable energy. This ammonia can then be transported more efficiently and cracked upon arrival using Syzygy’s Ammonia e-Cracking™ systems to release hydrogen for energy applications. The success of the Ulsan project demonstrates the potential of this approach to unlock the hydrogen economy.

"Lotte and Syzygy made history with this project," said Dr. Suman Khatiwada, Co-founder and CTO at Syzygy. "This breakthrough provides energy-importing regions like Korea, Japan, and Eastern Europe with an efficient and proven way to crack imported ammonia for hydrogen. We deeply appreciate Lotte and Sumitomo Corporation Group for their vision and leadership in advancing cutting-edge technologies that will drive decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors. The next step is deploying a small commercial plant."

With logistical support from Sumitomo Corporation Group, Lotte installed the Rigel reactor cell at its Ulsan facility, completing plant construction in early November and field testing in December 2024. Syzygy provided both onsite and remote support during commissioning. Following KOSHA certification, the Rigel cell achieved immediate success, reaching optimal performance levels and operating seamlessly throughout the trial. The system surpassed previous benchmarks, achieving record results of 11 kWh/kg energy consumption, 81% energy efficiency, 99% conversion efficiency, and a daily hydrogen output of 290 kg. These results provide a clear roadmap for Syzygy to achieve 8 kWh/kg efficiency in future Rigel cell designs.

Hans Shin, Project Manager at Lotte Chemical, expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration, stating, “We look forward to commercializing this technology in South Korea. Over the coming years, we plan to work with Syzygy to identify the right application for building a small commercial plant, a critical step toward meeting South Korea’s growing hydrogen demand.”