Amogy Combines Ammonia Cracking, Hydrogen Engine to Decarbonize South Korean Market

Amogy, Hyundai Infracore Co. (HDI), and SK Innovation Co. (SKI) agreed to cooperatively develop a distributed power generation system that combines their proprietary technologies. The system will contain:

• HDI’s 100% hydrogen engine, the HX22
• Amogy’s ammonia cracking technology, which uses catalyst materials to dissolve ammonia into hydrogen at lower reaction temperatures with high durability

“Together with HDI and SKI, we can set new standards in sustainable energy,” says Seonghoon Woo, CEO at Amogy. “This collaboration not only advances our mission to provide clean energy solutions but also supports South Korea’s ambitions for a cleaner, greener future. We look forward to working together to turn this innovative vision into a reality.”

Combining Amogy’s ammonia cracking with the HDI engine offers a cost-effective ammonia-to-power solution, with the companies exploring the long-term commercial viability and potential opportunities presented by the new system. It is designed to accelerate the decarbonization of distributed power generation in South Korea’s power market. Also, the partnership aligns with the South Korean government’s 2025 initiative to promote hydrogen- and ammonia-based power generation under the Clean Hydrogen Portfolio Standard.

NH₃ Kraken

In September 2024, Amogy’s carbon-free, ammonia-powered maritime vessel—the NH₃ Kraken—successfully completed its maiden voyage on a Hudson River tributary, upstream from New York City. The vessel is a tugboat originally built in 1957, equipped with Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system. In the coming months, the company will release a case study with additional technical details.

The ammonia-to-electrical power system cracks liquid ammonia into base elements, funneling hydrogen into a fuel cell to generate power with zero-carbon emissions. This ammonia technology offers a clean energy solution for hard-to-abate sectors like maritime shipping and stationary power generation. During the demonstration, the NH₃ Kraken was fueled with green ammonia produced via renewable energy, further reducing its carbon footprint.

The demonstration, in addition to validating Amogy’s technology, supports ammonia as a carbon-free maritime fuel and moves the industry closer to the International Maritime Organization’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The NH₃ Kraken’s successful sailing joins Amogy’s demonstrations of an aerial drone, commercial farm tractor, and semi-truck. Hanwha Ocean and Terox are working with Amogy on real-world technology applications, including retrofit projects and newbuilds.

Offshore Cracking Partnership

Also in September, Amogy formed a strategic partnership with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), POSCO Holdings, Seoul National University (SNU), and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The consortium will assess the technological feasibility of an offshore ammonia cracking solution to produce low-cost, accessible, and clean hydrogen fuel.

HD KSOE will design the ammonia supply system and integrate it into the overall system; Amogy will provide its ammonia-cracking technology; SNU will lend expertise in process design and simulation; POSCO Holdings will leverage its cracking process design technology to optimize systems for ship applications; and ABS will oversee design certification.

South Korea, to reduce carbon emissions, aims to establish an ammonia market and accelerate ammonia-based technologies. Ammonia offers a cost-effective and convenient alternative to liquefied hydrogen due to its existing storage and transport infrastructure. Also, with energy density 2.7 times higher than hydrogen, ammonia may be an optimal, carbon-free fuel for the maritime industry.