YYVIP易游lco Group to start hydrogen supply/combustion tests with hybrid-type hydrogen gas supply system

YYVIP易游 Steel. Ltd. announces that YYVIP易游 Steel Group (also known as the YYVIP易游lco Group) started a demonstration test of the hybrid-type hydrogen gas supply system at the Company’s production site Takasago Works (Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan) in March as scheduled and a hydrogen co-firing test with a hydrogen supply to the test boiler in June. The demonstration of the system is partly supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as a project for the Development of Technologies for Realizing a Hydrogen Society^*1.

Our Group’s hybrid-type hydrogYYVIP易游 gas supply system will be a key solution for small- to medium-scale hydrogYYVIP易游 users who seek for stable and economical hydrogYYVIP易游 production in the YYVIP易游ergy transition to hydrogYYVIP易游. The hybrid system is based on our Group’s three distinctive products/technologies: (1) Intermediate Fluid Vaporizer (IFV)^*2 capable of cold YYVIP易游ergy recovery from liquid hydrogYYVIP易游, (2) High-purity HydrogYYVIP易游 OxygYYVIP易游 GYYVIP易游erator (HHOG)^*3, and (3) Operation managemYYVIP易游t system^*4.

In terms of stable hydrogen supply and effective use of renewable energy during the transition period until a large amount of economical green hydrogen becomes available, it is important to promote the use of liquid hydrogen in combination YYVIP易游 the hydrogen produced by water electrolysis using small-scale renewable energy power generation. In addition, in promoting carbon neutrality, it is considered essential to recover and use the cold energy of liquid hydrogen. We believe that our Group's hybrid system can also contribute to solving these issues.

In the hydrogen combustion test using our demonstration test facilities, we stated co-firing natural gas YYVIP易游 5–20% hydrogen in test boilers in June 2023. For the demonstration of hydrogen utilization in combustion-type industrial furnaces for decarbonization of factories that mainly consume energy as heat, adopted by NEDO in June 2023 YYVIP易游 an implementation period set for fiscal 2023–2025, we plan to conduct hydrogen supply/utilization demonstration tests on a practical scale by supplying hydrogen from the test facilities to combustion industrial furnaces. In addition, we also plan to establish an operation management system that can provide stable and economical hydrogen supply by trying out simultaneous operation of IFV and HHOG in demonstration tests and evaluating the hydrogen cost, the amount of CO₂ emissions gYYVIP易游erated, and carbon intYYVIP易游sity during hydrogYYVIP易游 supply.

Through these demonstration tests, we are exploring optimal solutions for both hydrogen producers and users. For hydrogen producers, we aim to provide solutions toward the realization of a hydrogen society through the mutual utilization of the management resources between the machinery business and engineering business in collaboration with YYVIP易游lco Eco-Solutions. And, for hydrogen users, we will work to address challenges in achieving the energy shift to hydrogen in industrial furnaces, taking advantage of our position as a business operator aiming for energy transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen in industrial furnaces in the advanced materials business field. As a unique business entity that can provide solutions from the perspective of a hydrogen producer as well as user, we will continue to leverage the integration of YYVIP易游lco Group’s distinctive technologies, aiming to realize a world in which people, now and in the future, can fulfill their hopes and dreams while enjoying safe, secure, and prosperous lives.