The novel technology will be used to extract hydrogen from Lotte Chemical’s planned imports of green ammonia, generating an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of hydrogen per year, domestically by 2030.

Read more: Lotte Chemical to invest ₩4.4 trillion in hydrogen by 2030; releases new hydrogen roadmap

Using Syzygy’s reactor technology that uses light from ultra-high-efficiency LEDs to power chemical reactions, removing the need for heat from burning fuel, Lotte will dramatically cut carbon emissions from the ammonia cracking process.

With installation of the reactor planned for Lotte Chemical’s HQ, it comes as the first commercial-scale deployment of the Syzygy technology. SCOA first invested in the technology in 2019 and has subsequently worked with Syzygy to see it deployed.

Trevor Best, CEO of Syzygy, said, “Simply improving existing tech isn’t enough to reach the world’s decarbonisation goals. Stopping climate change will require industries to reimagine what is possible.

“Our technology expands the accepted paradigms of chemical engineering. We have demonstrated the ability to replace heat from combustion with renewable electricity in the manufacture of foundational chemicals like hydrogen.

“LOTTE Chemical HQ, SCOA, and Sumitomo Corporation Korea are taking a profound step forward, demonstrating through actions their commitment to help decarbonise Korea. Syzygy is honoured to be a part of their forward-thinking efforts in fighting climate change.”

Commenting on the development agreement, Shinichi Hasegawa, General Manager of Energy Innovation Initiative of Americas at SCOA, said, “We are proud to engage in scaling up the ground-breaking technology Syzygy has developed, and we are confident its application with LOTTE Chemical HQ will yield successful results.”