Cummins’ Chinese JV to Boost Automotive Green Hydrogen Production
Powertrain specialist Cummins has entered a joint venture in China not boost global production of green hydrogen for automotive applications.
The US company has used its Chinese subsidiary Cummins Enze (Guangdong) to team up with the petrochemical corporation Sinopec Group hoping to accelerate the affordability and availability of green hydrogen through increased technological innovation, research and development and manufacturing capacity. Cummins will initially invest $47M to locate a manufacturing plant to produce proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. The plant will start with a manufacturing capacity of 500 megawatts of electrolyzers per year upon completion in 2023, which will be gradually increased over the next five years to reach one gigawatt of manufacturing capacity per year.
The company will also provide a variety of hydrogen generation system solutions to meet diversified application requirements. This will include offering electrolyzers for both small-scale hydrogen production, such as a hydrogen fueling system for on-site hydrogen generation, as well as for large-scale hydrogen generation installations capable of 100 megawatts and beyond.
Foshan, China, where the joint venture’s new plant will be located, is a national ecological base for the hydrogen energy industry. As a pioneer of the hydrogen economy, it has a mature hydrogen energy industry chain. It is also one of China’s first listed areas to be supported by China’s central government to pilot and grow the hydrogen industry.
Cummins has a long history of advanced technology and engineering capabilities with a broad portfolio of renewable hydrogen generation technologies, including PEM electrolyzer and fuel cell solutions. To date, the company has deployed more than 2,000 fuel cells and 600 electrolyzers globally.
Amy Davis, vice-president and president of new power at Cummins, said: “China’s embrace of green hydrogen is a breakthrough for the planet and Cummins and Sinopec joining together to realize the potential of green hydrogen is a huge leap forward for scaling our innovative PEM electrolyzer systems. Cummins was one of the first multinational companies to establish an entity in China in 1979, and we are thrilled to now use our deep roots and localized expertise to be at the forefront of the country’s energy transformation. This joint venture brings together Cummins’ and Sinopec’s innovative spirits and pursuit of a more sustainable tomorrow, enabling a carbon-free economy.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
