Tokuyama Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "the Company" or "Tokuyama") hereby announces details of its decision to open a manufacturing and development base for the early commercialization of alkaline water electrolyzers (AWEs) that produce hydrogen and oxygen utilizing renewable energy at the Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. This business is planned to start by June, 2023.

The AWE is a device that produces hydrogen and oxygen by applying electricity to alkaline solution and decomposing water. By absorbing renewable energy surplus electricity and output fluctuations, the potential exists to further expand the introduction of renewable energy.

As a part of the Company's efforts to help realize a decarbonized society, Tokuyama has promoted the development of a normal pressure AWE with the support of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The AWE developed by the Company in this instance achieves the world's highest level of low power consumption using original technologies such as those that involve brine electrolysis using zero-gap electrolyzers*. Tokuyama's AWE does not employ large amounts of such precious metals as platinum, which in turn facilitates up-scaling at low cost. Compared with electrolyzers of the same type, Tokuyama's AWE features a large energized area and a higher hydrogen production volume per unit site area.

Through this endeavor, Tokuyama will build a hydrogen supply chain that enables the efficient use of energy, from hydrogen production to utilization, and contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society, including the widespread use of renewable energy in Japan and overseas as well as local production for local consumption.

* Technology involving brine electrolysis using zero-gap electrolyzers: Used in the production of caustic soda based on the ion exchange membrane process. A technology that significantly reduces power consumption by eliminating solution resistance with a structure in which the membrane and electrodes (cathode and anode) are tightly attached.