TANAKA establishes production system for fuel cell electrode catalysts in China
TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP has signed a technical assistance agreement with its Chinese affiliate to establish production of fuel cell electrode catalysts. The move aims to meet growing demand in the Chinese market.
TOKYO, Sept. 12, 2023 – TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo, a core company within TANAKA Precious Metals, announced today the establishment of a production system for fuel cell electrode catalysts in China through a technical assistance agreement with Chengdu Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd.
Production equipment will be installed at the plant of Ya'an Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Chengdu Guangming Paite, with full-scale production expected to commence in the summer of 2024. The companies plan to start producing these catalysts for the Chinese market by the end of 2025.
This initiative is intended to address the increasing demand within China's rapidly expanding fuel cell market. TANAKA, holding a significant global market share for fuel cell electrode catalysts, aims to leverage this agreement to meet domestic needs. Their development efforts focus on platinum and platinum alloy catalysts crucial for the efficiency of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs).
The application of fuel cells is projected to expand beyond vehicles into areas such as buses, trucks, and heavy industrial equipment. The Chinese government actively supports the development of hydrogen energy and fuel cell vehicles as strategic industries, further driving the market's anticipated growth.