Samsung Heavy Industries Accelerates Development of 'Ammonia Fuel Cell'

Technology Cooperation Agreement Signed with US Venture 'Amogy'
Miniaturization of 'Eco-Friendly' Ammonia Power Pack Now Possible

Samsung Heavy Industries has entered into a technology development cooperation agreement with the US company 'Amogy' to develop next-generation propulsion technology using 'ammonia.' The plan is to enable ship propulsion using ammonia, which is considered an eco-friendly fuel.

Samsung Heavy Industries announced on the 7th that it signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement (SCA) for technology development and strategic investment with Amogy at the 'Pangyo R&D Center' in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Kyung-hee, Head of Management Support at Samsung Heavy Industries, Woo Sung-hoon, CEO of Amogy, and other officials from both companies. Amogy is a US-based global technology venture company that possesses technology to decompose ammonia to produce hydrogen.

Samsung Heavy Industries Vice President Kim Kyung-hee (third from left) and Amoji CEO Woo Sung-hoon (fourth from left), along with other company officials, are posing for a commemorative photo marking the signing of the SCA. (Photo by Samsung Heavy Industries)

Amogy has been developing ammonia power packs applied to land-based generators and ship generators, possessing technology that can miniaturize these to one-hundredth of the existing size. The ammonia power pack refers to power devices such as hydrogen engines and fuel cells that utilize hydrogen extracted from ammonia. Samsung Heavy Industries revealed its plan to lead eco-friendly ship propulsion technology by utilizing Amogy's ammonia power pack technology.

Samsung Heavy Industries is accelerating product development to provide a full value chain solution from offshore ammonia production to utilization in response to the 'post-LNG (liquefied natural gas) era.' At last year's International Maritime and Shipbuilding Exhibition, it received major classification society design certifications for the ‘Ammonia Fuel Cell Propulsion Ammonia Carrier (VLAC)’ and the world's first ‘Floating Blue Ammonia Production Facility.’ Samsung Heavy Industries is also developing a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) for ammonia to supply ammonia from offshore to onshore.

Samsung Heavy Industries and Amogy stated that by focusing their capabilities on developing next-generation ammonia power packs optimized for large vessels, they will lead ammonia ultra-gap technology. Kim Kyung-hee, Head of Management Support, emphasized, "With this technology agreement, Samsung Heavy Industries will accelerate strengthening its eco-friendly competitiveness in the shipbuilding and marine sectors," adding, "We will strive to advance the era of zero-carbon maritime transportation through collaboration from product development to demonstration and application." CEO Woo Sung-hoon said, "We have high expectations for entering into a strategic agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries, a leading company in the global shipbuilding industry," and added, "The ammonia power pack will play a very important role in the eco-friendly industrial ecosystem."