Johnson Matthey & Hystar to Boost Renewable Hydrogen Production
By Strategic Research Institute on Jun 12, 2023 08:00 am
Johnson Matthey (JM), a renowned leader in sustainable technologies, and Hystar, a Norwegian high-tech hydrogen company, have entered into a three-year strategic supply agreement to accelerate the production of renewable (green) hydrogen. This development aligns with JM's commitment to secure a minimum of two strategic partnerships in Hydrogen Technologies by the end of the 2022/23 period.
Under the agreement, JM will provide membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), which are vital components that define the performance of electrolysers. These MEAs will be used by Hystar as part of their commercialization ramp-up. This collaboration builds upon the existing partnership between the two companies that began in 2021, focusing on electrolyser stack development and manufacturing scale-up, leveraging JM's components and Hystar's patented cell design.
As part of their ongoing collaboration, JM will supply MEAs for Hystar's PEM electrolysers, which will be utilized in the HyPilot project in Norway. The HyPilot project aims to validate Hystar's patented PEM technology under real-world conditions in collaboration with industry leaders Yara and Equinor. The project's objectives are driven by the growing demand for hydrogen in food production and energy security. As part of this initiative, Hystar will deliver a fully autonomous, containerized PEM electrolyser capable of producing up to 745 kg/day of hydrogen.
Hystar has already surpassed the Clean Hydrogen for Europe 2030 targets for clean hydrogen production, as demonstrated by recent test results. Moving forward, Hystar and JM will work together to further enhance the performance of Hystar's electrolysers and incorporate circularity principles into the system.
Both companies will continue their collaboration to facilitate the scale-up and automation of Hystar's planned multi GW production line, which is expected to be operational by 2025.
Fredrik Mowill, Chief Executive Officer at Hystar, expresses, "As part of our growth plans, Hystar will partner with strategic suppliers, such as JM, who possess state-of-the-art technology, mass manufacturing capacity, as well as the ability to pursue future technology developments."
Mark Wilson, Chief Executive of Hydrogen Technologies at JM, highlights the significance of the strategic agreement, stating, "This partnership with Hystar is a valuable endorsement of JM's electrolyser technology, manufacturing capability, supply chain access, and circularity offerings. Collaborations like this, bringing together the expertise and strengths of different organizations, are vital for the advancement of the hydrogen economy."