Asahi Kasei, Gentari, JGC Partner for FEED Study on Alkaline Water Electrolyzers

Asahi Kasei, Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd (Gentari), and JGC Holdings Corp. completed a feasibility study for the production of up to 8,000 tons per year of green hydrogen with a 60 MW-class alkaline water electrolyzer system. The partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a front-end engineering design (FEED) study for the electrolyzer project. According to the MoU’s terms, the FEED study is scheduled to begin in January of 2024 and operation will commence in 2027.

“We are pleased to collaborate with these two companies on a project that will demonstrate the practical application of green hydrogen,” said Nobuko Uetake, Lead Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei and Senior General Manager of its Green Solution Project. “Asahi Kasei's experience from demonstration experiments in Germany and managing a 10 MW electrolyzer in Japan for over three years will play a pivotal role in this project's success."

The partners will accelerate the deployment of a 60 MW water electrolyzer coupled with an integrated control system to produce green hydrogen. The collaboration between Asahi Kasei, Gentari, and JGC establishes a market for regional green hydrogen production and aligns with the decarbonization goals across southeast Asia, including Japan and Malaysia.

“The project stands as a catalyst for advancing Malaysia’s hydrogen economy towards achieving its green hydrogen target of 200,000 tons per year by 2030, aligning with the National Energy Transition Roadmap and Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap,” said Michèle Azalbert, Gentari’s Chief Hydrogen Officer. “Beyond this, Gentari is developing hydrogen projects with national and state entities to position Malaysia as the region’s leading hydrogen hub, leveraging PETRONAS assets and the country’s strategic advantages.”

Asahi Kasei, Gentari, and JGC sign an MoU for FEED study; Image Credits: Business Wire

“JGC Group is currently constructing a demonstration facility of clean ammonia production adjacent to Asahi Kasei’s electrolyzer at Namie-machi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, together with an integrated control system,” said Masahiro Aika, Senior Executive Officer, Technology Commercialization Officer and General Manager, Sustainability Co-creation Unit of JGC. “We look forward to applying the lessons learned from the demonstration and to utilizing its technical outcomes toward the execution of this project in Malaysia.”