Asahi Kasei starts operation of multi-module hydrogen pilot plant in Kawasaki

Rhea-AI Summary

Asahi Kasei has officially inaugurated its multi-module hydrogen pilot plant in Kawasaki, Japan, aimed at advancing its hydrogen business. The plant, which began operations in March 2024, features four 0.8 MW modules and is a important step toward developing a 100 MW-class alkaline water electrolysis system for green hydrogen production. The pilot plant will help optimize equipment design and control technology by operating under realistic conditions. Asahi Kasei plans to commercialize its alkaline water electrolyzers in 2025, targeting sales of ¥100 billion by 2030. The project is supported by Japan's Green Innovation Fund.

Positive

• Official inauguration of hydrogen pilot plant in Kawasaki.
• Started operation in March 2024 with four 0.8 MW modules.
• Aiming to develop a 100 MW-class alkaline water electrolysis system.
• Pilot plant helps optimize equipment design and control technology.
• Plans to commercialize alkaline water electrolyzers in 2025.
• Targeting ¥100 billion in sales by 2030.
• Supported by Japan's Green Innovation Fund.
• Experience from Fukushima Energy Research Field will underpin market entry.

Negative

• Commercialization delayed until 2025, affecting short-term revenue.
• Current operation is to pilot plant trials, not full-scale production.
• Success dependent on fluctuating renewable energy sources.
• Significant financial and operational risks in scaling from pilot to 100 MW systems.
• Potential market entry delays due to unforeseen operational issues.

Important milestone towards realization of 100 MW-class alkaline-water electrolysis systems

TOKYO & NEW YORK & DÜSSELDORF, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei is further accelerating its hydrogen business activities. On May 13, company representatives and partners including the Japanese government celebrated the official opening of a new hydrogen pilot plant in Kawasaki, Japan. Operation start of this commercial-scale facility was in March 2024. The trial operation of four 0.8 MW modules is another milestone towards the realization of a commercial multi-module 100 MW-class alkaline water electrolysis system for green hydrogen production.

Asahi Kasei's multi-module hydrogen pilot plant in Kawasaki (Photo: Business Wire)

The hydrogen market is going to expand rapidly in the coming years. According to the Hydrogen Council, cumulative global installed capacity of water electrolyzers forecasted to reach approximately 300 GW by 2030. To meet this increasing demand, Asahi Kasei is currently developing the Aqualyzer™ alkaline water electrolyzer optimized for the production of green hydrogen.

In order to test this new system under realistic conditions in a multi-module setup, the company started constructing a pilot plant at its manufacturing site in Kawasaki in November 2022. The new facility started operation in March 2024, and on May 13, company representatives and partners gathered in Kawasaki to celebrate its official opening.

Multi-module approach for easy scale-up

Masami Takenaka, Lead Executive Officer at Asahi Kasei and responsible for the company’s hydrogen business, said, “This pilot facility is milestone not only for Asahi Kasei, but also for the global hydrogen business in general. We believe that successfully operating our equipment in this test facility will be a door opener for commercial large-scale multi-module alkaline water electrolyzers and eventually the realization of a hydrogen society”.

For the production of green hydrogen, electrolysis systems need to respond to fluctuating power supply from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar. In the pilot plant, four 0.8 MW Aqualyzer™ modules are being operated under realistic conditions, including operation during maintenance and low power supply during nighttime. In addition, the equipment is designed to simulate fluctuating power input from solar or wind power. By utilizing the data obtained from these trials, Asahi Kasei will further optimize the equipment design, operation methods, and control technology of the electrolysis system. With its multi-module approach, Asahi Kasei aims to combine up to ten modules with a capacity of 10 MW each, enabling commercial large-scale electrolysis systems with a capacity of up to 100 MW.

Start of commercialization in 2025

Asahi Kasei’s hydrogen business is based on more than four decades of large-scale and long-term experience in the field of chlor-alkali electrolysis. Aiming for a total sales volume of ¥100 billion (€600 million) by 2030, the company plans to start commercial business activities for its alkaline water electrolyzers in 2025.

The pilot plant in Kawasaki is an important step toward achieving this goal, after the successful long-term tests of its 10 MW single-stack alkaline-water electrolysis system at the Fukushima Energy Research Field (FH2R)¹ in Namie, Fukushima, Japan, since 2020. The practical experience gained in Namie and the trial operation at the pilot plant in Kawasaki will further underpin Asahi Kasei’s market entry with large-scale and highly reliable multi-module alkaline water electrolysis equipment. This experience will also be leveraged for the joint feasibility study with Gentari and JGC for a 60 MW-class electrolyzer in Malaysia targeted for 2027, as announced in November 2023.

Construction and operation of the pilot plant is supported by the “Green Innovation Fund²” of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

For more information regarding Asahi Kasei’s alkaline water electrolyzers, please visit: https://ak-green-solution.com/

For a visual overview, view our video: https://youtu.be/LChkRlosk20

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its founding in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 48,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility & Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

¹ Development of Technologies for Realizing a Hydrogen Society / Development of Hydrogen Energy Utilization Systems / Technical development concerning business model construction and large-scale proof of a hydrogen system for energy reuse
² Green Innovation Fund / Hydrogen Production through Water Electrolysis Using Power from Renewables / Technology development for increasing the size of water electrolysers, and Power-to-X large-scale demonstrations / Large-scale Alkaline Water Electrolysis System Development and Green Chemical Plant Demonstration

See also:
Asahi Kasei starts construction of alkaline water electrolysis pilot test plant for hydrogen production
Asahi Kasei, Gentari, and JGC signed MOU on FEED study for 60 MW class alkaline water electrolyser to produce green hydrogen in Malaysia

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240514748940/en/

North America Contact:

Asahi Kasei America Inc.

Christian OKeefe

christian.okeefe@ak-america.com

Europe Contact:

Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH

Sebastian Schmidt

sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu

Source: Asahi Kasei

FAQ

What is the significance of Asahi Kasei's hydrogen pilot plant in Kawasaki?

The hydrogen pilot plant in Kawasaki is a milestone aimed at developing a 100 MW-class alkaline water electrolysis system for green hydrogen production, starting its operations in March 2024.

When did Asahi Kasei's hydrogen pilot plant start operations?

The hydrogen pilot plant began its operations in March 2024.

What are the future commercialization plans for Asahi Kasei's alkaline water electrolyzers?

Asahi Kasei plans to commercialize its alkaline water electrolyzers in 2025, targeting ¥100 billion in sales by 2030.

How many modules does the Kawasaki hydrogen pilot plant operate with?

The Kawasaki hydrogen pilot plant operates with four 0.8 MW modules.

What support has Asahi Kasei received for its hydrogen pilot plant project?

The project is supported by Japan's Green Innovation Fund.

What milestone is Asahi Kasei aiming for with its hydrogen pilot plant?

Asahi Kasei aims to develop a commercial multi-module 100 MW-class alkaline water electrolysis system.

What is the target sales volume for Asahi Kasei's alkaline water electrolyzers by 2030?

Asahi Kasei is targeting a total sales volume of ¥100 billion by 2030 for its alkaline water electrolyzers.