USNC, Hyundai Engineering and SK ecoplant Sign MOU for Hydrogen Production

The 'Hydrogen Micro Hub' is a facility that produces hydrogen by applying a high-temperature electrolysis process of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) to the electricity and high-temperature steam generated by USNC’s Micro-Modular™ Reactor (MMR®).

This is a carbon-free hydrogen production method that extracts hydrogen by decomposing water with electricity generated from nuclear power.

Under the agreement, the three companies will jointly conduct research and development on the MMR-SOEC integrated plant for the next five years. Through this, they plan to examine the establishment of a competitive hydrogen production system, and promote continuous research and development and verification for future hydrogen production and supply businesses.

Hong Hyun-seong, CEO of Hyundai Engineering, said, "We have signed a three-party agreement to develop an environmentally friendly business that economically produces and supplies hydrogen by combining MMR and SOEC technologies." He also stated that Hyundai Engineering is making efforts in various fields such as recycling plastic waste, resource utilization, offshore wind power, solar power, and expanding infrastructure for electric vehicle charging, to leap forward as a global eco-energy company.

Park Kyung-il, CEO of SK ecoplant, said, "SOEC is a good partner that can take advantage of MMR's advantages by operating at high temperatures and producing high-efficiency hydrogen with minimal energy consumption," and added that the company will lead the production of zero-carbon emission hydrogen, including economically feasible nuclear power utilization hydrogen production, in addition to the renewable energy-based green hydrogen value chain model that it has secured.

Francesco Venneri, CEO of USNC, said, "The Hydrogen Micro Hub is an efficient and economical hydrogen production plant that can produce hydrogen on a scale required at the local site." He also said, "The three companies, SK ecoplant, Hyundai Engineering, and USNC, will contribute to the efficient establishment of a hydrogen economy based on the MMR-SOEC integrated plant."