On the 9th, Samsung Heavy Industries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan's Morimura SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) Technology at the Samsung Heavy Industries Pangyo R&D (Research and Development) Center for the development and commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells. Kim Kyung-hee, head of the Future Business Division (Vice President) at Samsung Heavy Industries, Yoshikuni Sato, president and CEO of Morimura (President), and other officials from both companies attended the signing ceremony.
Based on this agreement, Samsung Heavy Industries will embark on joint research and development with Morimura by 2028 for SOFCs applicable to ships and data centers. Samsung Heavy Industries will be responsible for the engineering, system integration, and commercialization of large-capacity SOFC products. Morimura is expected to handle the supply of cells and stacks that make up the SOFCs.
SOFCs are power generation devices that produce electricity through chemical reactions between fuels such as hydrogen or LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and oxygen, using a ceramic solid electrolyte. They consist of cells, which are the smallest unit for generating electricity; stacks, which are power modules created by stacking multiple cells to increase voltage and output; and other systems such as fuel supply devices and heat management equipment. Compared to traditional power generation equipment like engines, SOFCs offer the advantages of reduced carbon emissions and high power generation efficiency.
In particular, since existing fuels such as LNG can be used as-is, application to ships is also easy. Accordingly, Samsung Heavy Industries plans to pursue the application of SOFCs in commercial shipbuilding to respond to carbon emission regulations and develop next-generation unmanned autonomous electric ships. Using SOFCs as a power source for ships allows for remote diagnosis and maintenance from land, enabling the establishment of an unmanned system in the maintenance field. It can also be expanded to floating data centers, among other new products that Samsung Heavy Industries is pursuing orders for, so various business synergies are expected.
Division Head Kim Kyung-hee said, "Based on Samsung Heavy Industries' network in the shipbuilding and offshore sectors and Morimura's technical expertise, the two companies will cooperate closely to pioneer new markets," while President Sato stated, "In accordance with the philosophy of pioneering the future in the energy sector, we want to cooperate solidly with Samsung Heavy Industries to create and provide new value."
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