Umicore Broke Ground For Its Large-Scale Fuel Cell Catalyst Plant In China

On December 1st, Umicore held the groundbreaking ceremony in Changshu, Suzhou for its large-scale fuel cell catalyst plant.

With the increasing popularity of green hydrogen, the demand for fuel cell catalyst products is growing rapidly. Over the past 30 years, Umicore has been committed to the research and development of fuel cell catalysts, providing platinum and iridium catalysts for different Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, covering a wide range of industries such as automotive, marine industry, aerospace, energy storage, and water electrolysis for hydrogen production.

Leveraging its durable and high-performance fuel cells catalysts and working closely with customers across the value chain, Umicore has become a global leader in PEM fuel cell catalysts for the mobility segment. Its new greenfield plant in China – expected to become the world’s largest PEM catalyst production facility to date - will enable Umicore to cater for the rapidly growing customer demand, serving demand through to 2030.

Over the past decades, we have already formed deep connections with customers, research institutes and industrial partners with abundant experience in fuel cell catalysts. By establishing a large-scale fuel cell catalyst plant in China, we are confident that Umicore will continue to lead the way in the latest fuel cell technology, thereby accelerating the transformation of hydrogen-based clean mobility.”
- Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore

"China has now become an important engine for the global fuel cell vehicle technology and market. Through cutting-edge fuel cell catalyst technology, Umicore is reshaping transportation and mobility in China and around the world," Joakim Thøgersen, Senior Vice President Fuel Cells and Stationary Catalysts of Umicore said.

The greenfield facility, that will expand Umicore’s existing footprint of fuel cell catalyst production and R&D centers in Europe and Asia^[1], is planned to be carbon neutral from the start and will contribute to reducing scope 3 emissions in the value chain. The plant is expected to become operational in early 2026.

^[1] Umicore currently has PEM fuel cell catalyst production facilities in Incheon (Korea) and Hanau (Germany). The activities’ R&D centers and applied technology centers are located in Incheon (Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Suzhou (China), Olen (Belgium, Copenhagen (Denmark) and Hanau (Germany).