LOTTE Group Chemical Unit Expands Activation of Hydrogen Economy

through Joint Testing of Ammonia Photolysis Technology for the First Time in the World

█ LOTTE Chemical and LOTTE Fine Chemical of Korea, Syzygy of the US and Sumitomo of Japan signs joint development

    agreement (JDA) for photolysis technology on 24th 

█ World’s first testing of ammonia photolysis technology advantageous for small to medium production of hydrogen

    and fast activation of equipment... Conducting world’s largest testing of ammonia pyrolysis technology advantageous

    for large-scale continued production of hydrogen from the end of last year to procure commercialization technologies

    of the two technologies and gain leadership in the hydrogen industry

█ LOTTE Chemical President Hwang Jin-koo, “We will contribute to the activation of the local economy and

    carbon neutrality through clean hydrogen and ammonia”... “Following ammonia pyrolysis technology

    that is currently being tested, we will utilize this ammonia photolysis technology test to utilize the strengths

    of each technology to secure a solution that supplies hydrogen quickly and variously according to the needs

    of the environment and customers” 

█ LOTTE Fine Chemical President Kim Yong-seok, “Using the best infrastructure and knowhow

    for ammonia distribution Northeast Asia, we will work on developing and commercializing technologies related

    to clean hydrogen and ammonia”... “Through this world’s first ammonia photolysis hydrogen production

    technology testing, we will procure the core technologies for hydrogen energy conversion”

LOTTE Group Chemical Unit (LOTTE Chemical, LOTTE Fine Chemical) will hold joint tests for ammonia photolysis for the first time in the world with Syzygy of the US and Sumitomo of Japan. Thus, the LOTTE Group Chemical Unit will follow the world’s largest ammonia pyrolysis technology test with testing of photolysis technologies to take a step closer to preoccupying technologies for gaining leadership of the future hydrogen industry.

In ammonia photolysis technology, light is the energy source for decomposition. As the equipment is operated with electricity, the time needed to activate and stop the equipment is short, thus allowing fast activation, and it is also advantageous for small to medium-scale production of hydrogen. Another strength is that it has no combustion process, and therefore does not emit greenhouse gases. Accordingly, by utilizing this technology in hydrogen (mixed) generators that use thousands of tons of hydrogen intermittently every year or hydrogen charging stations that use hundreds of tons of hydrogen, it is expected to create an economic supply system. The four companies will perform technological tests to test clean hydrogen production for mixed or full hydrogen supply for gas turbine generators, and also test technologies for producing highly pure hydrogen that can be supplied to hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen charging stations.

The LOTTE Group Chemical Unit plans to supply clean hydrogen based on ammonia pyrolysis technologies to clients that continuously need large amounts of hydrogen, while also completing its portfolio that can satisfy customer needs based on ammonia photolysis technologies for clients needing small to medium amounts of hydrogen to contribute to the activation of hydrogen and ammonia in Korea. 

For this, LOTTE Chemical, LOTTE Fine Chemical, Syzygy, and Sumitomo signed a JDA (Joint Development Agreement) for ammonia photolysis technologies with the attendance of LOTTE Chemical Research Center Chief Hwang Min-jae, LOTTE Fine Chemical President Kim Yong-seok, Syzygy President Trevor Best, and Sumitomo Shinichi Hasegawa Energy Innovation Initiative Americas (EIIA) General Manager at Jamsil LOTTE World Tower in Seoul on the 24th.

Syzygy is a US startup that designs and produced photocatalyst reactors and possessing synthesis/decomposition technologies using this, and through this agreement, it will accelerate production of photolysis reactor and photocatalyst production, while LOTTE Chemical will be in charge of the design of production equipment system and the equipment for testing. LOTTE Fine Chemical will be in charge of the supply of ammonia and operation of production facilities, while Sumitomo will take charge of transporting the reactors and photocatalysts.

Ammonia is receiving attention as a carrier and fuel for using hydrogen in Korea. Various companies around the world are striving to convert ammonia into hydrogen and LOTTE Group Chemical Unit has also been testing technologies for performing pyrolysis on ammonia to convert to hydrogen as a national policy project since late last year. The testing scope of this project is 1,000Nm3 per hour, and when converting this to hydrogen weight, it is equivalent to producing about 2 tons of hydrogen daily. This is the largest testing project in the world, and this technology is advantageous for continuously producing hydrogen in large quantities.

LOTTE Chemical President Hwang Jin-koo commented, “LOTTE Chemical will contribute to the activation of the local economy and carbon neutrality through clean hydrogen and ammonia.” He added, “Following ammonia pyrolysis technology that is currently being tested, we will utilize this ammonia photolysis technology test to utilize the strengths of each technology to secure a solution that supplies hydrogen quickly and variously according to the needs of the environment and customers” 

LOTTE Fine Chemical President Kim Yong-seok stated, “Using the best infrastructure and knowhow for ammonia distribution Northeast Asia, we will work on developing and commercializing technologies related to clean hydrogen and ammonia,” and added “Through this world’s first ammonia photolysis hydrogen production technology testing, we will procure the core technologies for hydrogen energy conversion.”

Syzygy President Trevor Best said, ‘With this JDA, LOTTE Group Chemical Unit, Syzygy, and Sumitomo have taken an important first step toward the decarbonization of Korea,” while adding, “It is a great honor for Syzygy to be able to work together to respond to climate change.” 

Sumitomo’s Shinichi Hasegawa EIIA General Manager stated, “It is a great honor to enter this JDA with the four companies such as the LOTTE Group Chemical Unit that handles the highest quantity of ammonia in Korea, Sumitomo Group, and Syzygy that Sumitomo invested in.” He added, “Starting with this project, we intend to continue to discuss cooperation opportunities in the entire supply chain for ammonia and hydrogen.”

LOTTE Chemical plans to invest 6 trillion KRW by 2030 based on the core capacities of large-scale consumers, massive supply chains, and eco-friendly technologies, etc. to produce 1.2 million tons of clean hydrogen, which will be distributed and utilized to achieve 5 trillion KRW in revenue. In particular, from the 1.2 million tons of its hydrogen production, it plans to supply 600,000 tons for generators, 450,000 tons for fuel cells and hydrogen gas turbines, and 150,000 tons for transportation.

LOTTE Fine Chemical intends to take the initiative for domestic implementation of clean ammonia based on the supply and distribution knowhow of Northeast Asia’s top ammonia distributor. Last year, the consortium headed by LOTTE Fine Chemical was selected for the national policy project on the development of clean hydrogen production technologies based on ammonia in November of last year. Furthermore, in August of last year, it entered an MOU for the supply of 300,000 tons of green ammonia with the Trammo, the world’s largest ammonia distributor based in the US, for the first time in Korea, thus putting the spurs to procure clean ammonia.