Chemours to Invest $200 Million in Hydrogen Tech Solutions

Delaware-headquartered Chemours Company has announced that it has planned a $200 million investment to increase capacity and advance technology for its industry-leading Nafion ion exchange materials to support the Hydrogen Economy.  Chemours is a global chemistry company with considerable market positions in titanium technologies, thermal and specialized solutions and advanced performance materials.

The tackling of climate change through energy transition has led to high demand for hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Chemours said that its $200 million fresh investment will support growing market demand for clean hydrogen generation using water electrolyzers, energy storage in flow batteries, and hydrogen conversion to power fuel cell vehicles of the future.

“Our Nafion membrane technology is the heart of hydrogen power generation, storage, and use,” said Denise Dignam, President of Advanced Performance Materials at Chemours. He added, “Built on more than 50 years of experience, this planned new investment will further support the growth of Chemours’ partners, the overall Hydrogen Economy, and positions Chemours as a major industry player.”

In its official statement, Chemours said that the investment will focus on the Nafion ion exchange materials technology platform, whose chemical properties can help generate clean hydrogen from water electrolysis enabling the Hydrogen Economy. Nafion proton exchange membranes are used in fuel cells to convert hydrogen to power instantly, making fleets of zero-emission fuel cell-powered trucks, buses, trains, and cars a reality.

Also, the Nafion ion exchange materials enable flow batteries to store excess renewable energy and convert it back to electricity, helping to solve the challenge of renewable power intermittency.

Chemours said that it has committed to leadership in responsible manufacturing, and this capacity investment will contribute to its goal of shifting the company’s product portfolio to offerings that contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The company said that it is evaluating potential locations in the United States and Europe for the investments.