Evonik has reinforced its global footprint into the quickly broadening green hydrogen sector.
The company has opened a latest Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) application technology center in Shanghai, formed to test and enhance its high-performance DURAION membranes under real-world working situations.
The latest Evonik AEM Center Shanghai is the company’s first facility of its kind in the region and represents a vast step in developing its hydrogen technology capabilities throughout Asia.
The center will focus on verifying and combining DURAION membranes, which are produced at commercial scale in Marl, Germany, to ensure they meet the overall performance needs of local clients and applications.
“With the establishment of the Evonik AEM Center Shanghai, we are drastically reinforcing our ability to overcome the quickly developing hydrogen-applications market in China – and also beyond,” stated Jack Zhang, Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific, High Performance Polymers business line.
“Being close to customers and partners permits us to better align our AEM technology with market requirements, expand adoption, and expand hydrogen solutions for commercialization worldwide.”
Beyond testing out, the facility will serve a collaborative innovation hub, bringing together Evonik experts and regional partners to address technical challenges across the AEM electrolysis value chain and expand the deployment of next-generation hydrogen technologies.
“The AEM center plays a main function in the persisted development of our AEM technology ,” stated Ryan Liu, Director Strategic Projects and Head of RD&I Greater China, “It will allow rapid development cycles for DURAION® membranes and also a deeper understanding of AEM-based electrolysis structures as an whole.”
Built on Evonik’s expertise in polymer chemistry, membrane technologies and electrochemical materials, the middle houses experienced in laboratories equipped with demonstration-scale electrolysis testing out capabilities. Advanced electrolyzer test benches will permit engineers to analyze membrane performance and long-term durability under real working situations.
The facility assists the entire validation pathway, from single-cell testing via to demonstration-scale systems, supporting pave the way for wider industrial deployment of DURAION® membranes in AEM electrolysis applications.
AEM electrolysis is developing as a promising route for manufacturing green hydrogen from water. Compared with other electrolysis technologies, it gives more flexibility in power supply and probably lower capital prices via the use of much less expensive materials.
“The energy transition is increasing, with green hydrogen from AEM technology as a main capability for defossilizing indutry and transportation,” stated Fuliang Xia, President of Evonik Greater China.
“The Evonik AEM Center Shanghai will reinforce Evonik’s contribution towards this goal , by optimizing our DURAION anion exchange membranes in one of the world’s most dynamic markets for climate-neutral hydrogen applications and water electrolysis technologies.”
The release underscores Evonik’s growing commitment to advancing hydrogen technologies and supporting the global transition closer to low-carbon industrial and transportation systems.
