TLDR:
- Toshiba and Bekaert have signed a partnership agreement on MEA technology for PEM electrolyzers.
- The collaboration aims to accelerate the advance towards green hydrogen production at scale.
Full Article Summary:
Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions Corporation (“Toshiba”) and Bekaert have formed a global partnership focusing on Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEA) technology for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. This collaboration, which began with an MoU in September 2023, aims to enhance green hydrogen production by reducing iridium usage in PEM anode electrodes.
PEM electrolyzers use electricity to split water into oxygen and hydrogen, with iridium being a crucial component in the process. Toshiba’s iridium-saving technology, combined with Bekaert’s expertise in Porous Transport Layers (PTL), enables a 90% reduction in iridium usage, facilitating a more stable supply of MEA and supporting the scalability of green hydrogen production.
Bekaert will commercialize the MEA production using Toshiba’s technology while Toshiba focuses on further improving the technical performance. The partnership, excluding Japan-related projects, is global in scope. Both companies view this collaboration as a significant step towards meeting the growing demand for green hydrogen and driving the transition towards a green hydrogen society.
Inge Schildermans from Bekaert expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting Bekaert’s commitment to green hydrogen production and the potential of the new PEM MEA technology. Shigehiro Kawahara from Toshiba emphasized the importance of addressing the surging demand for green hydrogen and how their collaboration with Bekaert can contribute to this goal.
