The South Korean infrastructure company Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has partnered with the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) and Lloyd’s register to develop the world’s first ammonia floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). Similarly to a natural gas FSRU, the ammonia FSRU will store liquefied ammonia (a compound combining hydrogen and nitrogen), re-gasify it and supply it to onshore customers.
Liquefied ammonia is an efficient carrier for hydrogen, as it has a hydrogen storage density 1.7 times higher than liquid hydrogen in the same volume. In addition, its liquefaction temperature is minus 33℃, much higher than the liquefaction temperature of hydrogen, which is minus 253℃.
In November 2022, South Korea announced new policies to boost its hydrogen and ammonia industry. They notably include achieving hydrogen enriched combustion combining hydrogen and ammonia, building the world’s largest liquid hydrogen plant and fueling station, building an ammonia and liquid hydrogen receiving terminal as well as installing a hydrogen pipeline.
In late 2021, South Korea had set a target of reaching 13.8% to 21.5% of national output coming from hydrogen and ammonia-fed gas turbines by 2050, and announced that ammonia coal co-combustion will be operational in over half the country’s coal-fired power generating units by 2030.