Tokyo Gas taps H2U to develop cheaper catalysts for PEM electrolysers

California-based H2U Technologies and Tokyo Gas Co Ltd (TYO:9531) have entered into a multi-year joint development agreement (JDA) ultimately aimed at reducing the cost of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers.

Current PEM electrolyser designs are based on rare, costly platinum group metals (PGMs) like iridium, the companies explain.

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Tokyo Gas will use H2U's proprietary Catalyst Discovery Engine (CDE), which allows scientists to discover and develop new catalysts. The Japanese company is looking to develop low-cost, high-performance, non-iridium catalysts and catalyst-coated membranes. Tokyo Gas intends to use electrolysis-derived green hydrogen either directly or to produce e-methane.

"The cost of producing green hydrogen today is too high and the reliance on rare and costly catalyst materials is not sustainable,” H2U Technologies chief executive Mark McGough. “Through scientific collaboration, our CDE will allow Tokyo Gas to rapidly discover novel materials so they can bring their own PEM electrolysers to market and produce renewable hydrogen at affordable costs,” added McGough.