De Nora and Asahi Kasei Team Up to Promote Compact Hydrogen Electrolysers

Asahi Kasei, a prominent Japanese technology firm, has partnered with De Nora, an Italian multinational specializing in sustainable technologies and electrolyzer cells. This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), focuses on the joint development, study, evaluation, and marketing of small-scale pressurized alkaline water electrolyzers.

De Nora brings extensive expertise in high-performance electrode catalysts and is a leader in manufacturing and selling electrodes and electrolyzers for various industrial processes. The MOU aims to leverage the combined experience of both companies in chlor-alkali electrolysis to create a robust cooperation framework for developing and commercializing water electrolysis technologies.

The demand for green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, is rapidly increasing. The Hydrogen Council predicts that the global installed capacity of water electrolyzers will surge to about 300 GW by 2030. This growing interest has led many companies to enter the water electrolysis sector, particularly those focusing on compact systems that require less space, cost, and installation time.

To address this demand, Asahi Kasei and De Nora are collaborating on small-scale containerized electrolyzers ranging from 1 to 7.5 MW. This partnership allows Asahi Kasei to expand its offerings into small-scale pressurized electrolyzers, meeting the diverse needs of the hydrogen market. Asahi Kasei’s expertise in chlor-alkali electrolyzers, honed over nearly fifty years, positions it to support clients who may lack experience in electrolysis technology.

The alliance with De Nora aligns with Asahi Kasei’s strategy to become a comprehensive solution provider in electrolysis. This model encompasses technological development, including membranes, electrodes, and electrolytic cells, as well as supply chain management, large-scale production, monitoring, and maintenance. Asahi Kasei aims to integrate these elements into a seamless offering, enhancing the adoption of water electrolysis technology.

Kenji Takeda, Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei responsible for the Green Solution Project, emphasized that this partnership will lower barriers for customers adopting water electrolysis and support the broader hydrogen market development. He believes that combining De Nora’s extensive electrolysis expertise with Asahi Kasei’s customer-focused approach will significantly impact the deployment of these systems in various markets.

De Nora’s CEO, Paolo Dellachà, expressed pride in the collaboration, highlighting its importance in advancing sustainable energy solutions. The partnership capitalizes on the strengths of both companies to meet the rising global demand for small-scale hydrogen production systems. De Nora aims to enhance its small-scale containerized electrolyzer technology, supporting decentralized hydrogen production in regions designated as “Hydrogen Valleys” and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, the collaboration will expedite production scaling at De Nora’s Italian Gigafactory, which is currently under construction.

Overall, this strategic partnership between Asahi Kasei and De Nora represents a significant step forward in the development of small-scale hydrogen electrolysis technologies, contributing to the growth of the green hydrogen sector and supporting the transition to sustainable energy solutions.