Samsung E&A has embarked on the demonstration project for high-temperature electrolysis facilities in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

On Oct. 24, South Korea's Seongbuk-gu at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology's Clean Hydrogen Cooperation Hub Center, Namgoong Hong, President of Samsung E&A (left in the photo), and Oh Sang-rok, President of KIST, are taking a commemorative photo during the start ceremony of the Samsung E&A-KIST joint research institute's high-temperature electrolysis hotbox demonstration. /Courtesy of Samsung E&A

Samsung E&A noted on the 25th that it held the ‘160kW high-temperature electrolysis (SOEC) hot box demonstration kickoff ceremony’ with KIST on the 24th.

The kickoff ceremony was held at the Clean Hydrogen Cooperation Hub Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology located in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Nam Gung-hong, president of Samsung E&A, and Oh Sang-rok, president of KIST, attended the event.

This demonstration project, with a scale of 160 kilowatts (kW), is the first high-temperature electrolysis project conducted domestically since the enactment of the hydrogen law. Samsung E&A and KIST began their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February of last year. Following the launch of a joint research institute for electrolysis technology development in July of the same year, they have continuously collaborated to evaluate and establish large-scale high-temperature electrolysis (SOEC) stack facilities. In particular, they reached this demonstration kickoff after obtaining the final approval for a regulatory sandbox last December and entering the technology verification phase.

The demonstration facility is designed on a small scale for the preliminary evaluation purpose of constructing industrial-scale electrolysis facilities. Considering the characteristics of the SOEC technology operating at high temperatures, the safety and efficiency of the system will be verified.

Samsung E&A plans to successfully carry out this demonstration project by combining its experience gained through numerous projects and innovative technological capabilities with KIST's research capacities accumulated in the field of high-temperature electrolysis.

A Samsung E&A official said, “This collaboration with KIST will accelerate the commercialization of high-temperature electrolysis technology and develop into an excellent case of public-private cooperation,” adding, “Based on the technology and know-how secured through the demonstration project, we will lead the future hydrogen economy era.”