Asahi Kasei and US-based Power to Hydrogen (P2H2) are evaluating the scale-up and commercialization of anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis.
The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to combine P2H2’s expertise in AEM technology with Asahi Kasei’s manufacturing and commercialization capabilities. The agreement builds on their existing joint development work and is intended to address the technical and industrial requirements for future manufacturing and commercial deployment.
The collaboration will focus on identifying what is needed to move AEM electrolysis from technology development toward commercial production. This includes assessing the challenges and opportunities associated with scaling the technology, although the companies have not disclosed specific capacity targets, investment commitments or a commercial deployment timeline.
AEM electrolysis has attracted interest because it could address some of the cost and supply chain constraints associated with established electrolyzer technologies. Its use of non-critical metals and potentially less expensive materials offers an alternative to systems that depend on more costly or supply-constrained components. Its ability to operate flexibly also makes it relevant to hydrogen projects relying on variable renewable electricity.
However, material cost advantages alone do not establish commercial competitiveness. The technology must demonstrate reliable operation, consistent performance and manufacturing scalability under industrial conditions. These factors will determine whether AEM systems can compete with established alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers in large-scale hydrogen projects.
For Asahi Kasei, the agreement provides an opportunity to extend its existing electrolysis capabilities into another technology segment. The Japanese company brings manufacturing experience and commercialization capacity, while P2H2 contributes specialized AEM technology expertise. Combining these capabilities could help address the gap between technology development and industrial manufacturing.
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