Global hydrogen technology leader Nel has partnered with Samsung C&T Corporation, a world-renowned engineering and construction company, to celebrate their joint efforts in launching the country’s first nuclear hydrogen project. This multi-million-euro acidic nuclear hydrogen project will be powered by a 10MW alkaline electrolyzer system, marking a new dawn for nuclear energy generation. The project is often referred to as “pink hydrogen” due to its clean and sustainable nature.
1. Nel’s Advanced Electrolyzers: Pink Hydrogen Center
This experimental project represents a significant advancement in hydrogen energy technology, combining the most innovative electrolyzer systems from Korea’s nuclear energy company with its nuclear energy infrastructure. The demonstration facility aims to convert surplus energy from nuclear power plants into hydrogen, thereby improving energy efficiency and helping South Korea transition towards a low-carbon economy. The advanced alkaline electrolyzer technology is a key component of Nel’s solution.
Water is split into hydrogen and oxygen through an electrically driven electrochemical process. Electrolyzers are known for their reliability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, making them the preferred choice for such large-scale applications. These electrolyzers are produced at Nel’s factory in Hereva, Norway, and can utilize wasted energy from nuclear power plants during off-peak hours, converting it into stored, modular clean energy.
Byung Soo Lee, Head of Samsung C&T’s Energy Solutions Business, stated, “There is no doubt that Nel is the best partner for this historic collaboration, as this is South Korea’s first project to produce hydrogen using nuclear energy.”
2. PEM Electrolyzers: Compact Renewable Energy Solutions
Nel has established a new partnership with Samsung C&T, marking another important aspect of the organization’s 2024 strategy. Earlier in 2023, Nel built a new PEM electrolyzer manufacturing facility in Wallingford, Connecticut, to strengthen its influence in the U.S. hydrogen market.
Unlike alkaline electrolyzers, PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzers are compact, flexible, and can be integrated with renewable resources like wind and solar energy, highlighting Nel’s hydrogen production technology.
In addition, Nel has secured €135 million in funding from the EU Innovation Fund to accelerate the industrialization of its next-generation pressurized alkaline electrolyzer technology. This groundbreaking innovation will significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce production costs, and enhance scalability. All these advancements will position Nel as a leading company, offering solutions to the world’s energy challenges through next-generation hydrogen energy solutions.
3. Hydrogen Power Generation: Nel and Samsung’s Global Model
The partnership between Nel and Samsung goes beyond technological achievements, providing a global model for hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. The project converts surplus nuclear energy into hydrogen and serves as a two-in-one solution to address energy efficiency and grid stability issues. It clearly highlights hydrogen’s role in enhancing energy system resilience, making it a storage solution for surplus energy rather than waste. These measures are highly significant.
Countries with existing nuclear power infrastructure can emulate this model to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and decarbonize energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing and long-distance transport. Although the South Korean project has not yet entered the commercial stage, it has laid the foundation for scaling up. It positions hydrogen as a core component of global sustainable energy plans.
Nel and Samsung C&T’s collaboration transforms surplus nuclear energy into valuable hydrogen, showcasing hydrogen’s potential and setting a benchmark for sustainable energy systems. The company is innovating in the hydrogen sector, opening the door for this technology to address global energy challenges.
