The Chemours Company, a global chemistry company with leading market positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions and Advanced Performance Materials, announced a $200-MM investment to increase capacity and advance technology for its Nafion ion exchange materials to be located at Chemours’ manufacturing facility in Villers-Saint-Paul, France.

Chemours’ investment builds on the existing efforts in the U.S. to have a reliable supply chain and robust capacity to enable the H₂ economy. It will support growing market demand for clean H₂ generation using water electrolyzers, energy storage in flow batteries, and H₂ conversion to power fuel cell vehicles, and contribute to European and broader global efforts to enable the clean energy transition. As part of the investment, the capabilities of Chemours’ regional manufacturing site will be expanded to support and advance technological progress and new products for the worldwide H₂ economy.

“Our society has a tremendous opportunity to build a more sustainable future, and that must include transitioning to cleaner energy. Chemistry holds the keys to that future and will continue to play an important role in moving the H₂ economy forward,” said Mark Newman, President and CEO at Chemours. “Chemours has chosen France for this investment in the H₂ economy because of the strong alignment between our sustainable growth vision, the French government’s goal to create a reliable and strong H₂ economy, and the European Union’s ambition to deliver a clean energy transition based on the objectives set in the EU Climate Law. With the outstanding team at our Villers-Saint-Paul site, the surrounding community, and the entire Hauts-de-France region, we will expand the impact of our Nafion proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology to help drive decarbonization at a global scale.”

Despite solid growth in the deployment of green H₂ technologies, the scale-up of the H₂ economy supply chain capability and capacity remains critical in realizing the full potential of H₂ energy and meeting escalating demand. Nafion PEM technology represents one of the most promising solutions for green H₂ production, which has several advantages, including faster start-up, fewer components, a smaller footprint, simpler maintenance and zero emissions when coupled with renewable energy.

“Advancing the H₂ economy is a winning formula for people and the planet, but its success requires product performance, innovation, scalable supply, and responsible, sustainable manufacturing,” said Denise Dignam, President of Advance Performance Materials at Chemours. “Chemours is committed to enabling the transition to a global H₂ economy, and our investment in Villers-Saint-Paul supports that ambition. Adding production capability in France provides direct, domestic access for Europe to our Nafion ion exchange materials while extending our global capacity to help our customers grow and fast-track implementation of H₂ solutions.”