EU Funding Boosts Agfa’s Green Hydrogen Production Initiative

EU Funding Boosts Agfa’s Green Hydrogen Production Initiative

(IN BRIEF) Agfa, a sustainable technology provider, collaborates with VITO to develop advanced separator membranes for hydrogen production. They secure an 11 million Euro grant from the EU Innovation Fund for a membrane production plant. The collaboration aims to enhance electrolyzer performance and reduce production costs. Agfa’s CEO highlights their commitment to sustainability, while VITO’s CEO emphasizes the importance of hydrogen in clean energy transitions.

(PRESS RELEASE) MORTSEL, 29-Feb-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Agfa-Gevaert N.V. (EBR: AGFB), a Belgian-German multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, and distributes analogue and digital imaging products, software, and systems, is pleased to announce significant advancements in its collaboration with VITO, a renowned research and technology organization, aimed at developing innovative separator membranes for alkaline water electrolysis. This strategic partnership reinforces Agfa’s commitment to sustainable innovation and is further supported by an 11 million Euro grant from the EU Innovation Fund for the establishment of a state-of-the-art membrane production plant in Mortsel, Belgium.

Strategic Collaboration with VITO

Agfa’s longstanding collaboration with VITO has been instrumental in pioneering the commercial launch of ZIRFON membranes, which have revolutionized hydrogen production since 2007. Building upon this success, Agfa and VITO are now working together to develop novel porous gas separator membranes aimed at enhancing electrolyzer performance and reducing overall hydrogen production costs. By leveraging funding opportunities from various governmental bodies, including Belgian federal initiatives and regional calls such as VLAIO, Agfa and VITO are poised to accelerate their joint research efforts in this crucial area.

EU Funding for Membrane Production Plant

In tandem with its collaboration with VITO, Agfa has secured an 11 million Euro grant from the prestigious EU Innovation Fund for its GIGA-SCALES project. This funding will play a pivotal role in the establishment of Agfa’s cutting-edge ZIRFON membranes production plant, scheduled to commence operations in October 2025. The plant, located in Mortsel, Belgium, will significantly enhance Agfa’s production capacity, enabling the delivery of membranes representing 20 gigawatts per year of alkaline water electrolysis. This substantial increase in production capacity aligns with Agfa’s commitment to driving the global deployment of water electrolyzers and advancing the green hydrogen economy.

Environmental Permit and Future Scalability

Agfa has recently obtained the environmental permit from local authorities for its new ZIRFON production plant, underscoring its commitment to sustainable operations. Designed with scalability in mind, the plant is poised for future expansions to meet evolving market demands. Pascal Juery, CEO of Agfa, expressed confidence in the plant’s timely operationalization, emphasizing its pivotal role in meeting the increasing demand for sustainable hydrogen solutions.

Comments from Leadership

Pascal Juery, CEO of Agfa, reiterated the company’s dedication to innovation and sustainability, highlighting the significance of the strategic collaboration with VITO and the support received from the EU Innovation Fund. Inge Neven, CEO of VITO, emphasized the importance of hydrogen in the transition towards cleaner energy sources and expressed enthusiasm for the continued partnership with Agfa in driving technological advancements in this critical field.

About ZIRFON

Green hydrogen production involves water electrolysis, a process using green electrical energy to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen, which are then kept separate by a membrane. Zirfon membranes, employed in advanced alkaline electrolysis, are renowned for their consistently high productivity and durability under dynamic operating conditions, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of electrolytic systems, while limiting maintenance.
The unparalleled efficacy of ZIRFON membranes in green hydrogen production is demonstrated by their exceptional productivity, four times higher than conventional membranes while also allowing safe intermittent operation of the electrolyzer, enhancing electrolytic systems’ efficiency and reliability.
Learn more at www.agfa.com/zirfon and www.agfa.com/corporate/newzirfonplant/

About the EU Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund, financed by EU Emissions Trading System revenues, is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The Fund focuses on highly innovative clean technologies and big flagship projects with European added value that can bring significant emission and greenhouse gas reductions.”
The Innovation Fund is a key funding instrument for delivering the EU’s economy-wide commitments under the Paris Agreement and the climate and energy priorities put forward in the REPowerEU Plan, the Hydrogen Bank, the Green Deal Industrial Plan and the Net-Zero Industry Act.

About VITO

VITO is the reference for independent, applied technological research to generate a positive impact for a society in transition. Scientifically based, driven by collaboration and solution-oriented. It combines its domain knowledge of people and environment with technological innovations, (pilot) infrastructure and digital applications.
In this way VITO realizes a measurable effect for citizens, industry and policy in Flanders, Europe and the world, for its three impact domains: sustainable use of raw materials (circularity-bio-economy, energy and water), climate mitigation and adaptation, and a sustainable living environment for all. In this way, it can improve the quality of life for all and support the United Nations SDGs. Together for a better future.

About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is a leading company in imaging technology and IT solutions with over 150 years of experience. The Group holds three divisions: Radiology Solutions, HealthCare IT, and Digital Print & Chemicals. They develop, manufacture and market analogue and digital systems for the healthcare sector, for specific industrial applications and for the printing industry. In 2022, the Group realized a turnover of 1,857 million Euro.

Contact
Viviane Dictus
Director Corporate Communications
tel. ++32 0 3 444 7124
e-mail: viviane.dictus@agfa.com

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”

SOURCE: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.