Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: steam-based ammonia cracking for high-purity hydrogen
By on January 13, 2026
Click to learn more. MHI has successfully demonstrated the production of high purity hydrogen at lower reaction temperatures relative to conventional technologies based on burner combustion. Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
At its pilot plant in the Nagasaki District Research & Innovation centre, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has successfully produced 99% pure hydrogen via steam-powered ammonia cracking.
MHI’s unique steam-based heating system operates at lower reaction temperatures (and hence lower heating costs) compared to conventional technologies that generate heat via burner combustion. MHI’s system also doesn’t require a combustion furnace, which makes capabilities such as miniaturization achievable.
To scale up the technology, MHI intends to collaborate with Nippon Shokubai and Hokkaido Electric Power. The project was selected by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for its “Development of Technologies for Building a Competitive Hydrogen Supply Chain” project. MHI initially announced the collaboration to develop a new ammonia cracking technology in August 2023 in collaboration with Nippon Shokubai. The commercial system will be marketed as the Hydrogen Mitsubishi Ammonia Cracking System (or HyMACS®).