Japanese conglomerate Asahi Kasei has invested in Canadian startup Ionomr Innovations, a company specializing in anion exchange membranes (AEM) for use in electrolyzers and other applications. The move is part of Asahi Kasei’s “Care for Earth” investment framework, which aims to solve environmental issues such as hydrogen production, energy storage, carbon management, and bio-based chemicals.
Ionomr’s AEM allows for cost-efficient and scalable production of green hydrogen through electrolysis using renewable energy. The high-performance and durable membrane does not require precious metals as catalysts, making it easy to scale up production at a reduced cost. Asahi Kasei, a diversified global manufacturer with expertise in membrane-process electrolysis, is collaborating with Ionomr to further enhance the performance of its AEM products.
Asahi Kasei has been developing alkaline water electrolyzers for hydrogen production since 2010 and has been participating in several projects globally. The company supplied a 10 MW-scale alkaline water electrolyzer to the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R) in 2020 and is accelerating its development and demonstration activities toward commercialization in 2025.
Ionomr’s CEO, Bill Haberlin, welcomed Asahi Kasei as a financial partner, stating that the support and endorsement of a lead electrolyser manufacturer underscores the potential of Ionomr’s Aemion® materials and for AEM as a viable solution for significant cost reduction in the hydrogen economy. Masami Takenaka, Lead Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei and Senior General Manager of Corporate Research & Development, expressed his excitement about working with Ionomr to decarbonize the planet with green hydrogen.
