Toyota to mass-produce hydrogen electrolysers in partnership with Chiyoda

Automaker Toyota is to mass-produce its own 5MW PEM electrolysers in partnership with Japan's Chiyoda Corporation, the companies announced on fifth February. The equipment has been developed using the same cells as the fuel cells Toyota uses in its hydrogen-powered Mirai car.

"The manufacturing and mass production technologies for electrolysis cell stacks using fuel cell technology owned by Toyota and the processing plant design and large-scale plant construction technologies owned by Chiyoda will be combined to develop a large-scale electrolysis system that is competitive," the companies announced. "This will enable adaptation to the rapidly evolving hydrogen production markets both in Japan and overseas."

The 5MW electrolysers, each covering an area of 2.5 x 6 metres and capable of producing 100kg of H2 per hour, will be combined to form a "standard package to enable large-scale electrolysis systems".

"The advantages of this equipment are that it occupies only half the footprint of conventional equipment and offers ease of maintenance, allowing for easier transport, reduced on-site construction time, and lower construction and engineering costs," the companies state.

The two companies did not disclose any details on when the plant will be built or how much production capacity it will have, saying only that the "electrolysis system" will be introduced at Toyota's Hongsha plant (the company's oldest plant) in fiscal 2025 and then "will be expanded to the 10MW class and used for validation and development."