Green Hydrogen Economy: Evonik Builds Plant for Anion Exchange Membranes

Evonik is building a pilot plant in Marl for the production of its innovative and efficient anion exchange membrane (AEM). The company developed the membrane itself and markets it under the name DURAION®. It is a key component in AEM water electrolysis and has the potential to enable the cost-effective production of green hydrogen. Evonik is investing a low double-digit million euro amount in the plant, which is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2025.

“This strategic investment is in line with our business objectives to expand our pioneering membrane business as a key element in the emerging green hydrogen economy,” says Goetz Baumgarten, Head of the Membranes & Fibres Product Line in Evonik's High Performance Polymers Business Line.

The AEM plant in Marl will produce membranes for customers to use in commercial electrolysis systems. Once completed, it will be able to produce enough membranes per year to provide 2.5 GW of electrolysis capacity for hydrogen production.

In addition, the AEM plant will also be able to produce fabric-reinforced membranes in order to meet the growing customer interest in this technology.

Compared to conventional electrolysis processes, AEM technology promises lower investment costs, high current density and very good efficiency thanks to cheaper materials for the cells.

“The successful development of our DURAION® membrane was only possible because we pooled Evonik's wide-ranging expertise and technology,” says Christian Däschlein, head of the new growth area Hydrogen Economy at Creavis, Evonik's strategic innovation unit and business incubator. The membrane is a polymer and a high-tech product: on the one hand, it has to allow anions to pass through, and on the other, it has to be impermeable to the gases produced during electrolysis, such as hydrogen. It also has to withstand high pressure, high current densities and high temperatures.

“In our specialist areas, we were able to combine polymer design and synthesis, engineering, membrane production and customer and market feedback,” says Däschlein. Over the past twelve months, Evonik has already steadily increased the production capacity of intermediates for DURAION® membranes. The construction of the membrane plant in Marl is now the logical next step for Evonik to expand its membrane business.