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A Korean startup having liquefied ammonia electrolysis hydrogen extraction technology is seeking commercial and R&D partners for system validation and commercialisation adapted to European specifications

Summary

Profile Type
  • Technology offer
POD Reference
TOKR20241218001
Term of Validity
18 December 2024 - 18 December 2025
Company's Country
  • South Korea
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
  • Research and development cooperation agreement
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
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General information

Short Summary
A Korean startup has developed liquefied ammonia electrolysis hydrogen extraction technology. Compared to existing ammonia thermochemical methods, the new system offers low production costs and higher efficiency in hydrogen extraction by adapting the characteristics of ammonia. The company is seeking commercial or R&D partners for commercialisation of its technology.
Full Description
To address the global climate crisis and achieve carbon neutrality goals, expanding the share of renewable energy is essential, and Hydrogen is gaining attention as a means of storing surplus renewable energy in large quantities and over long periods.

In Europe and Asian countries, hydrogen production is lower than demand, leading to a reliance on hydrogen imports. However, transporting hydrogen over long distances by ship requires a significant amount of energy, posing a challenge. To address this, various transportation options are available, including compressed hydrogen, liquid hydrogen, ammonia, and LOHCs (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers). Among these, ammonia is considered optimal for large-scale, long-term, long-distance hydrogen transport due to its high volumetric energy density and established technologies and infrastructures (excluding hydrogen extraction), Additionally, South Korea plans to import anhydrous liquid ammonia to meet its hydrogen shortage by 2050.

Following recent technological and industrial trends, a Korean startup, established in 2022, has developed a liquefied ammonia electrolysis hydrogen extraction technology. This company’s technology is based on anhydrous ammonia electrochemical decomposition, which offers high energy efficiency, low costs, and no NOx generation compared to traditional thermochemical method.

The developed system consists of super electrolytic ammonia generation vessels, stack cell, gas/liquid separator, and ammonia trap. This Korean company has adapted and developed this system to the characteristics of ammonia, such as using an application of chemical processes optimized for electrochemical properties and implementation of processes based on electrochemical numerical calculations. The company has 4 evaluation and test stations, demonstration system of 1 Nm3/h, test system for 10 Nm3/h.

The Korean startup is seeking partners for commercialization of its anhydrous ammonia electrolysis technology under commercial agreement with technical assistance or research and development agreement.
Advantages and Innovations
* Because this new system is based on electrochemical method, it provides high energy efficiency, low production costs, and no NOx generation compared to the thermochemical hydrogen extraction from ammonia.
- No need for hydrogen/nitrogen separation process
- Raw material recycling system for improved energy efficiency

* In addition, to overcome the limitations of existing ammonia electrolysis such as low conductivity and durability due to the characteristics of ammonia, the new system employs;
- Generating super electrolytic ammonia
- High performance non-platinum electrodes
- Advanced ammonia-specific stack

* System for pre-detection and proactive response to anomalies, enhancing the durability of materials and components
Stage of Development
  • Available for demonstration
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 13: Climate Action

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
* Commercial agreement with technical assistance for system validation and commercialization
- Companies in energy (especially hydrogen) industry (preferably EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction))
- Constructing hydrogen extraction facility based on Korean company’s technology (design & manufacturing process support with licensing agreement, using patented electrode of Korean company)
* Research and Development agreement for system validation and scale-up
- Companies or Research institutes which are interested in Joint R&D for scale-up of hydrogen extraction system
Type and Size of Partner
  • Big company
  • R&D Institution
  • SME 50 - 249
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
  • Research and development cooperation agreement

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 04008003 - Micro- and Nanotechnology related to energy
  • 04002012 - Other energy related machinery
  • 04001006 - Transport and storage of hydrogen
  • 04002002 - Hydrogen production
Market keywords
  • 06009 - Energy Distribution
  • 08001008 - Membranes and membrane-based products
  • 06008 - Energy Storage
Targeted countries
  • All countries

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