Companies sign agreement for future fuel

In an interesting turn, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. has signed a three-way memorandum of understanding with SK ecoplant Co., Ltd. and Hyundai Engineering Co. to conduct research and development for carbon-free hydrogen production.

Seattle-based Ultra Safe Nuclear is a leader in vertical integration of nuclear technologies and services, including its micro modular reactor (MMR), fully ceramic micro-encapsulated nuclear fuel, and nuclear power and propulsion for space exploration.

Under the agreement, the three companies will jointly conduct research and development of an integrated MMR-solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) hydrogen plant over the next five years. Through this, they plan to examine the establishment of a competitive hydrogen production system, as well as promote continuous research and development and verification for future hydrogen production equipment.

"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," said Hyundai Engineering CEO Hong Hyun-seong.

Dubbed the "Hydrogen Micro Hub," this is a future facility that will produce carbon-free hydrogen by applying a high-temperature SOEC to the electricity and high-temperature steam generated by Ultra Safe Nuclear's MMR.

"The Hydrogen Micro Hub is an efficient and economical hydrogen production plant that can produce hydrogen on scale required at the local site," said Ultra Safe Nuclear CEO Francesco Venneri.

Hyundai Engineering will oversee the MMR-related balance of plant and engineering, procurement, and construction activities; Ultra Safe Nuclear will be responsible for the MMR design, manufacturing, and supply; and SK ecoplant, a South Korea-based construction and engineering company focused on eco-friendly technologies, will establish a nuclear power-based hydrogen production system using U.S.-based Bloom Energy's SOEC and supply hydrogen production equipment.

Hyundai Engineering and USNC will utilize a micro modular nuclear power plant based on the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor being demonstrated at its Chalk River Laboratories Campus in Ontario, Canada.

Compared to commercial pressurized water reactors, this technology can generate relatively high-temperature steam, enabling the use of SOEC operating at high temps, which is able to maximize hydrogen production efficiency with less energy.

Meanwhile, SK ecoplant has already successfully tested hydrogen production through electrolysis using a 130 kW-scale SOEC facility located at the Bloom SK Fuel Cell manufacturing plant in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea.

"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," said SK ecoplant CEO Park Kyung-il.

Additionally, SK ecoplant is also participating in a government-led green hydrogen production demonstration project, having been recognized for its unique technological capabilities in efficient hydrogen production.

The company is also pursuing a project to convert green hydrogen into ammonia or methanol, which have their own high storage capabilities and is evaluated as having a complete renewable energy-based green hydrogen value chain, from renewable energy project development to related equipment production and energy performance contract to green hydrogen production.

SK ecoplant is also diversifying its "zero carbon emission hydrogen production model" to include pink hydrogen, which is produced by electrolyzing water using electricity from nuclear power generation.

"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," said Venneri.