Johnson Matthey (JM), a global leader in sustainable technologies, has entered into an investment agreement with the Jiading District in Shanghai to drive the development of the hydrogen economy in China.
The signing ceremony, held in Sonning, UK, unveiled plans for the construction of a new catalyst coated membrane (CCM) production facility that will cater to multiple proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell applications and PEM electrolysers.
The facility, situated in the designated Hydrogen industrial zone in the Jiading district of Shanghai, will cover an area of 22,000m2 and initially possess a capacity of up to 5GW. Expected to commence operations in 2025, the facility will be capable of expansion to meet growing customer demand.
This investment aligns with JM’s £1.1 billion global capital expenditure plan for the three years leading up to 2024/25 and will benefit from government support and incentives.
Dr. Mark Su, President of Greater China at Johnson Matthey, expressed his excitement regarding the investment, stating, “This is a landmark investment for our business as we build our footprint in the US, Europe, and now China, cementing our presence in all three major hydrogen markets. We are excited to expand our businesses while creating and scaling the low-carbon solutions that will help China achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.”
The new production facility will enable Johnson Matthey to provide locally manufactured CCMs to existing Chinese and international customers. Additionally, there is significant customer interest across fuel cell and renewable hydrogen technologies, indicating a promising future for the company.
Ms. Gao Xiang, Mayor of Jiading District, highlighted the district’s dedication to hydrogen industry development and expressed confidence in the partnership, emphasizing that the investment agreement aligns with the strengths of both parties and signifies a mutually beneficial cooperation.
CCMs play a crucial role in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and China has set a target to have 1 million hydrogen-powered vehicles on its roads by 2030.
Johnson Matthey has a strong presence in China, boasting six state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. The company is a leading producer of auto catalysts and platinum group metals, as well as a prominent player in syngas and hydrogen fuel cells. JM was the first producer of commercial-scale membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) in China, supplying MEAs for hydrogen fuel cell shuttle buses showcased during the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
