Samsung C&T, Japan’s Chiyoda collaborate in green hydrogen

South Korea’s Samsung C&T Corp. is boosting its eco-friendly energy business such as in green hydrogen, a carbon-neutral alternative resource.

The company on Thursday said it signed memorandum of understanding with Chiyoda Corp. of Japan on hydrogen cooperation using the latter company’s SPERA hydrogen technology.

SPERA is a method of separating hydrogen by adding the chemical substance toluene to hydrogen, converting it into methylcyclohexane form for easy long-distance transportation and storage, and transporting it.

Samsung C&T said the technology maintains hydrogen at room temperature and normal pressure, enabling stable transportation and storage.

Chiyoda is a leading Japanese construction and engineering company that builds liquefied natural gas and petrochemical plants. Samsung C&T will participate in the construction of its partner’s SPERA hydrogen plant as Chiyoda is a leader in the liquid organic hydrogen carrier method, a new technology for hydrogen transportation and storage.

“We will continue discussions on decarbonization projects in addition to that of SPREA Hydrogen,” a Samsung C&T source said.

Through this agreement, Samsung C&T expanded its business scope to not only the production and supply of green hydrogen, but also stable transportation and storage technologies at room temperature and verified pressure, securing production, transportation, storage and supply chain capacities for the eco-friendly resource.

In November 2021, Samsung C&T signed a comprehensive deal with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment on raising support for and cooperation in expansion of green hydrogen production and construction of related infrastructure.

Write to Hun-Hyoung Ha at hhh@hankyung.com