Evonik opens Anion Exchange Membrane application technology center in Shanghai
Evonik’s Innovation Factory in Shanghai, China, has opened an Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) application technology center, the first such technology center in Asia, to test its high-performance DURAION membranes in real-world operating conditions.
Evonik opened an AEM application technology center in Shanghai, China to test its DURAION membranes.
The core mission of the AEM application technology center is to test and optimize the integration of the high-performance DURAION membranes, which are manufactured at commercial scale in Marl, Germany, under real-life operating conditions to ensure they meet the specific needs of local customers.
The site will also function as a collaborative hub where the Innovation Factory’s local experts and area partners can work to address technological challenges across the entire AEM electrolysis value chain.
Built on Evonik’s long-standing expertise in polymer chemistry, membrane technologies, and electrochemical materials, the AEM center’s specialized laboratories feature demonstration-scale electrolysis testing capabilities.
These include advanced electrolyzer test benches to assess the performance and long-term durability of the membranes under actual operating conditions.
Overall, these facilities will support the full validation pathway — from single-cell testing to demonstration-scale systems — ultimately enabling the industrial application of DURAION membranes in AEM electrolysis.
Anion Exchange Membrane electrolysis is a process that can generate green hydrogen from water. Compared to other hydrogen electrolysis solutions, it offers great flexibility in power supply and has lower investment costs due to the use of less expensive materials.
“The energy transition is accelerating, with green hydrogen from AEM technology as a key potential for defossilizing industry and transportation,” said Fuliang Xia, President of Evonik Greater China. “The Evonik AEM Center Shanghai will strengthen Evonik’s contribution towards this goal, by optimizing our DURAION anion exchange membranes in one of the world’s most dynamic markets for climate-neutral hydrogen applications and water electrolysis technologies.”
