Tokyo Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) said it has successfully produced 99% pure hydrogen by cracking ammonia using steam heating at its pilot unit in the Nagasaki District Research & Innovation Center in Japan. MHI’s steam heating system operates at lower reaction temperatures, reducing operating costs.  In addition, because a combustion furnace is not required, the system offers excellent features such as the potential for miniaturization. The company will build on this progress to promote the development of medium-scale, decentralized ammonia cracking systems near hydrogen demand sites for use as a clean fuel or raw material. Based on the results of the pilot test, MHI, in collaboration with project partners Nippon Shokubai and Hokkaido Electric Power, will accelerate the development of this technology.