Japanese technology firm Asahi Kasei expects to secure an ¥11.4bn ($73m) government subsidy to scale its hydrogen electrolyser component manufacturing to at least 2GW of capacity as it aims to grab a 20% market share.
The company plans to bolster the production of cell frames and membranes for alkaline electrolysers at its plant in Kawasaki.
It comes as part of Asahi Kasei’s previously announced plans to build the 2GW plant by 2026 – adding to its 1GW of chlor-alkali ion-exchange membrane production.
Expected to spend around ¥35bn ($224m) on the development, the company says it expects to receive a subsidy of up to ¥11.4bn for the plant.
The company aims to use experience across both its hydrogen and chlor-alkali electrolysis businesses to respond to “the uncertain expansion of the hydrogen market and the growing demand in the chlor-alkali electrolysis business.”
The expansion comes amid fears that global electrolyser manufacturing capacity could far surpass near-term demand for green hydrogen.
Read more:Electrolyser manufacturing capacity could be 2x greater than demand in 2030: report
However, Masami Takenaka, Asahi Kasei’s head of its Green Solution Project, said the company must “swiftly” establish and expand production to secure its place in green hydrogen.
“Looking ahead to the huge market that will emerge from a new hydrogen ecosystem while anticipating market expansion toward 2030, we aim to build the world’s largest water electrolysis equipment manufacturing capacity and supply system…,” he said.
It comes after Asahi Kasei partnered with Italian industrial major De Nora to develop and market 1-7.5MW pressurised alkaline electrolysers last September.
Read more:De Nora, Asahi Kasei join forces to market small-scale hydrogen electrolysers
Takenaka added, “Through these efforts, we aim for a 20% share of the world’s major water electrolysis equipment markets, primarily in Europe, North America, and India, by around 2030, which will contribute to strengthening the green hydrogen supply base worldwide while raising the industrial competitiveness of Japan in the field of hydrogen.”
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