The Customers of AEM Electrolysers in China, and the Trend of Commercialization
AEM (Anion Exchange Membrane) electrolysers combine the benefits of both alkaline and PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) technologies while minimizing their respective drawbacks.
AEM electrolysers don’t rely on precious metals like platinum or iridium, while they use non-precious catalysts (e.g. nickel, cobalt) which could drastically reduce capital cost, and the Plastic-based membranes are also cheaper than Nafion used in PEM systems.
Compared with alkaline electrolysers, AEM electrolysers are well-suited for intermittent renewable power like solar and wind, which maintain high efficiency even in low-load conditions, making them ideal for distributed green hydrogen systems.
Another feature of AEM electrolysis system is compact & modular design. Like PEM, AEM electrolysers are compact and suitable for modular, scalable deployment. They are easy to be integrated into buildings, refueling stations, and small-scale industrial sites.
However, despite their promising features, AEM electrolysers face several technical, durability, and cost challenges that currently hinder their large-scale adoption. The utmost technical challenge is the chemical degradation of AEM membranes in alkaline conditions (especially at elevated temperatures and voltages). Most AEMs degrade faster than PEM membranes or alkaline diaphragms which leave long-term performance (5–10 years) remains unproven in real-world settings.
Furthermore, few industrial players have high-volume production lines for AEM components. As such, limited automation and lack of scalable manufacturing capacity induce high cost of AEM electrolysers which hinder commercialization.
It is well known that China holds significant advantages in large-scale manufacturing and in operating highly efficient component supply chains. The country is home to numerous technology companies and is capable of sustaining high levels of R&D investment—factors that together represent major strengths for the development of an AEM electrolysers industry in China.
Some international leading companies and a large number of domestic players have acknowledged the potential. Enapter forms a joint venture with Wolong Group to leverage its leading AEM technologies and cost-efficient China’s domestic supply chain of BOP equipment. Although the majority of orders comes from outside China currently, the joint venture is well-prepared to supply China’s domestic market. Horizon New Energy Technologies, Eve Hydrogen, Shenzhen Wenstone Hydrogen Energy Technology, Suqian Green Hydrogen Technology, and Shanghai Phoenix Technology have also release their 100KW or even 1MW scale AEM electrolyser products since 2024. All these companies proclaim they will achieve significant cost reduction by improvement of durability, mass production, and establishment of domestic supply chain.
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Photo: 1MW AEM electrolyser, Suqian Green Hydrogen Technology Co.,
However, it won’t happen without decent orders, especially orders from domestic customers. This article will discuss this crucial topic: What are the customers for AEM electrolysers in China, currently and in the near future. It summarizes all known AEM electrolysers orders placed by Chinese customers to date and analyzes the key characteristics of these customers. Of particular importance, the article further examines these companies’ renewable hydrogen development plans. This analysis offers valuable insights for readers to assess the near-term potential for AEM electrolysers deployment in China.
The AEM electrolyser orders placed by Chinese companies (as of May 2025):