SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

The Hydrogen Micro Hub: Large-scale Hydrogen Production

A new facility, the Hydrogen Micro Hub, will accelerate the production and supply of hydrogen. This joint venture between SK E&C, Hyundai Engineering and USNC represents a significant step towards a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Share:

Subscribe for unlimited access to all energy sector news.

Over 150 multisector articles and analyses every week.

Your 1st year at 99 $*

then 199 $/year

SUBSCRIBE — 99 $ for the 1st year

Create a free account to read this article

*renews at 199$/year, cancel anytime before renewal.

The Hydrogen Micro Hub is a joint venture between SK E&C, Hyundai Engineering and USNC. Together, they plan to develop a facility to accelerate the production and supply of hydrogen. The facility will use high-temperature electrolysis to produce hydrogen, with electricity and steam generated by USNC’s Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR) powering the process.

Objective: establish a competitive hydrogen production system for the future

A key advantage of this technology is its ability to generate high temperature steam, allowing the use of solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC) cells that operate at high temperatures. This maximizes the efficiency of hydrogen production while reducing energy consumption.

The partners plan to build the first Hydrogen Micro Hub at SK E&C’s headquarters in Seoul. They will collaborate on the research and development of the MMR-SOEC integrated plant for the next five years. The goal is to establish a competitive hydrogen production system, promoting ongoing research and development and verification for future hydrogen production and supply companies.

Hydrogen Micro Hub plans to produce hydrogen on a larger scale for the local market

Hyundai Engineering will be responsible for the balance of plant equipment for the MMR plant and for engineering, procurement and construction activities. USNC will design, manufacture and supply the MMR. SK E&C will establish a nuclear-based hydrogen production system using Bloom Energy’s SOEC and provide the hydrogen production equipment.

SK E&S has already successfully tested hydrogen production by electrolysis using a 130 kW SOEC facility in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, in cooperation with Bloom Energy and Bloom SK Fuel Cell. The Hydrogen Micro Hub is expected to produce hydrogen on a larger scale, with the potential to supply the local market.

USNC’s MMR is a 15 MW thermal, 5 MW electrical gas-cooled high-temperature reactor. It is designed to be simple, with minimal operation and maintenance requirements and no on-site fuel storage, handling or processing facilities. The MMR uses TRISO fuel in prismatic graphite blocks and has a transportable sealed core.

The Hydrogen Micro Hub represents a significant step towards a hydrogen economy based on sustainable, low-carbon energy sources. By combining nuclear and SOEC technologies, the facility could pave the way for more efficient and economical hydrogen production on a large scale.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
India diversifies coking coal purchases, Australia retreats
Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies launch the first subsea CO2 injection in Norway
Quebec allocates $1.5M to meet the demand for wind turbine technicians
Guidehouse forecasts $8.1 billion revenues for modular reactors by 2034
AMIGO LNG signs 15-year deal with Macquarie for 0.6 MTPA of LNG
Seoul and Washington open talks on nuclear fuel reprocessing
The United States and South Korea have agreed to initiate discussions on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, marking a potential strategic shift in the long-standing bilateral agreement.
AP1000 reactor certification extended in the US until 2046
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a 40-year extension for the AP1000 reactor design certification, supporting its long-term construction domestically and deployment abroad.
Nano Nuclear partners with Dioxitek to strengthen Argentina’s nuclear supply chain
Nano Nuclear Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dioxitek, Argentina’s only uranium supplier for nuclear fuel, to assess the development of local conversion and enrichment capacities.
Sweden lifts uranium mining ban to revive nuclear industry
Stockholm plans to restart uranium extraction by lifting the 2018 ban, aiming to secure strategic supply chains and support domestic nuclear electricity production.
CEA considers deploying a small Calogena nuclear reactor in Cadarache
The French Atomic Energy Commission has signed a letter of intent with start-up Calogena to study the installation of a 30 MW thermal small nuclear reactor at its Cadarache site.
Several South Korean groups back $50bn nuclear projects in the United States
KHNP, Doosan, POSCO and Samsung C&T join US partners to develop 5 GW of modular reactors, expand uranium enrichment and build an 11 GW energy complex in Texas.
Washington activates Defense Production Act to secure enriched uranium
The US Department of Energy is creating an industrial consortium to accelerate domestic enriched uranium production and reduce reliance on foreign imports ahead of the Russian supply ban in 2027.
One of the drones from last weekend’s Ukrainian attack struck the Kursk nuclear power plant
The kamikaze drone damaged an auxiliary transformer at the Kursk plant, halving the output of its only reactor in operation, according to Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
EDF restarts Gravelines reactors after shutdown caused by jellyfish
The four production units at the Gravelines nuclear power plant, shut down in mid-August by a massive jellyfish incursion, are back online, restoring the site’s full capacity.
enCore Energy completes $115M convertible notes offering
enCore Energy Corp. has completed a $115 million fundraising through convertible notes maturing in 2030, strengthening its financial capacity for upcoming operations.
Vattenfall selects GE Vernova and Rolls-Royce for future nuclear reactors
Vattenfall advances its nuclear project in Sweden by selecting two modular reactor suppliers, GE Vernova and Rolls-Royce SMR, for a potential installation on the Värö Peninsula.
NANO Nuclear Advances to Final Round of US Army’s xTechSearch 9 Competition
NANO Nuclear Energy has been selected to compete in the final round of xTechSearch 9, a US Army initiative aimed at identifying high-potential dual-use technology solutions.
Aalo Atomics raises USD 100 million to launch its first nuclear power plant
Aalo Atomics completes Series B funding, bringing its total to USD 136 million, to build its first modular nuclear power plant dedicated to data centers.
Malaysia Launches Strategic Study on Civil Nuclear Potential
The Malaysian government initiates a national assessment on nuclear energy feasibility, targeting regions facing energy supply constraints and integrating international regulatory requirements.
Premier American Uranium finalizes the acquisition of Nuclear Fuels with Court approval
The merger between Premier American Uranium and Nuclear Fuels reaches a key milestone following final approval of the arrangement plan by the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Google and Kairos Power to Build a 50 MW Nuclear Reactor in Tennessee
TVA, Google, and Kairos Power formalize an agreement to connect an advanced reactor to the grid, supporting data center energy growth and reinforcing the U.S. nuclear industry.
X-energy and the Pentagon Accelerate Nuclear Microreactor for National Security
The U.S. Department of Defense has signed an agreement with X-energy to develop a commercial nuclear microreactor intended to power sensitive military infrastructure.
NANO Nuclear Raises $209 Million and Accelerates Microreactor Deployment
With cash reserves multiplied sevenfold in nine months, NANO Nuclear intensifies development of its KRONOS MMR and positions itself in the Canadian and U.S. modular nuclear markets.
Equinix secures 20 Radiant microreactors and a nuclear deal in the Netherlands
Equinix signed a preorder for 20 Kaleidos nuclear microreactors and a letter of intent for a power purchase agreement with ULC-Energy, reinforcing its energy supply strategy for its data centers.
Oklo selected for three pilot projects by U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy selects Oklo and its subsidiary Atomic Alchemy for three pilot reactor projects aiming for criticality before July 2026.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

or

Go unlimited with our annual offer: $99 for the 1styear year, then $ 199/year.

SUBSCRIBE - €99