July 6, 2023

“Research and Development of Large-scale Ammonia Cracking Technology forLow-carbon Hydrogen Production by Tubular Ammonia Cracking Furnace”
Selected as a NEDO “Development of Technologies for Building a Competitive
Hydrogen Supply Chain”
JGC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Kubota Corporation
TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATIONJGC HOLDINGS CORPORATION (Representative Director, Chairman and CEO: Masayuki
Sato; “JGC HD”), Kubota Corporation (President and Representative Director: Yuichi Kitao;“Kubota”), and TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION (Representative Director,President: Kenji Nagata; “TAIYO NIPPON SANSO”) jointly submitted an application for aNew Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) “Development ofTechnologies for Building a Competitive Hydrogen Supply Chain” (the “Project”), and have
now received notification of their selection.
Global warming is an issue on a worldwide scale, and the shift to low-carbon anddecarbonized sources of energy is a significant challenge. Hydrogen is attracting attention
as a next-generation energy source because it does not emit carbon dioxide during
combustion.
The objectives of the Project include the development of the necessary component
technologies to build a hydrogen supply chain, and support for the acquisition of datarequired for the creation of regulations and international standards. The three companies
proposed the “research and development of large-scale external thermal ammonia
decomposition hydrogen production technology” (the “R&D”), in which hydrogen will beobtained from the thermal decomposition of imported ammonia, in anticipation of participation
in a large-scale hydrogen production project with an annual output of 110,000 tons.
NEDO website: Determination of Implementation System for Second Call for Submissions
for Fiscal 2023 “Development of Technologies for Building a Competitive Hydrogen SupplyChain”
https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/SE3_100001_00040.html
The R&D aims to optimize the entire process, from the gasification of imported liquidammonia, to the thermal decomposition of preheated ammonia gas using an Tubular
Ammonia Cracking Furnace, and the subsequent cooling of the cracked gases to purify

hydrogen. At present, many of the component technologies for producing hydrogen byammonia cracking have reached the commercial level, but they are commercialized only insmall systems, and not on a large scale. Among these component technologies, furthercomponent test-based verification and development is required for ammonia cracking tubes
and stage hydrogen gas purification system that removes nitrogen gas and ammonia fromammonia decomposition gas in one stage (using the PSA method), and the R&D is expected
to result in progress in this area. The entire process must also be optimized in accordancewith the application and specification of the hydrogen, and the R&D thus also aims to solvethese challenges. The R&D will be conducted during fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024.

Process flow of the R&D and cracking furnace concept image

JGC HD will supervise the Project, and will also design and develop the entire process andthe cracking furnace, plan the demonstration, and estimate the costs. Kubota will researchand develop ammonia cracking tubes, and TAIYO NIPPON SANSO will research anddevelop hydrogen purification systems. Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (“Idemitsu Kosan”), towhom JGC HD is outsourcing research, will be responsible for examining the demonstrationsite and support the planning of demonstration tests.

The technology, expertise, and track record of each company that will be utilized in the R&D
are as follows.
< JGC HD >・ Large-scale natural gas steam-methane reforming technology
・ Track record of developing blue hydrogen production package< Kubota >・Production and materials technology for heat-resistant cast steel tubes used inpetrochemicals plants, etc.
・ Track record of global sales of ethylene cracking tubes, steam-methane reforming tubes,
and other reaction tubes
・ Technology for developing metal materials for use in harsh environments, such as hightemperatures and corrosive environments< TAIYO NIPPON SANSO >・ Track record of developing high-purity hydrogen gas purification systems for hydrogenpurification< IDEMITSU KOSAN >・ Track record of operating hydrogen production systems

Going forward, JGC HD, Kubota, and TAIYO NIPPON SANSO will together play a leadingrole in the development of technology for the large-scale production of hydrogen, an essential
element for the carbon-neutral society, in anticipation of its social implementation in the year
2030, when the use of hydrogen is expected to increase in Japan and overseas.

< Inquiries related to this press release >JGC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Strategy Planning Office, Strategic Planning Unit
Corporate Communication Group, Yamagami, Date, Okii
TEL: 81-45-682-8026
Kubota Corporation
Secretary and Public Relations Dept.
Public Relations Section

TEL: 81-6-6648-2389

Tokyo Secretary and Public Relations Section

TEL: 81-3-3245-3052

TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
Corporate Communications, Kamata, Sasaki
TEL: 81-3-5788-8015
Email: Tnsc.Info@tn-sanso.co.jp