New Energies, new possibilities

ohnson Matthey (JM) has agreed to sell its Catalyst Technologies division, which includes hydrogen and sustainable fuel production assets, to Honeywell for £1.8bn ($2.4bn).

The British firm has faced growing investor pressure to simplify its operations and boost shareholder returns. By offloading one of its four core divisions, JM aims to sharpen its focus on its remaining business units, such as platinum group metal processing.

The company will retain approximately £200m ($268m) of the proceeds for general corporate purposes, while returning around £1.4bn ($1.88bn) to shareholders, equating to roughly £8 ($10.74) per share.

The Catalyst Technologies business sold to Honeywell includes Johnson Matthey’s work in blue hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and ammonia, as well as sustainable fuels such as SAF and biomethanol.

However, JM has retained its green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies businesses, including a fully equipped but currently idle facility in Royston designed to manufacture key components for electrolysers.

A company representative confirmed to H2 View that the necessary capital commitments have already been made, and operations for the facility will begin once market demand supports it.

Honeywell’s acquisition adds proven, globally integrated assets to its expanding clean energy portfolio, building on recent investments in SAF technologies and low-carbon solutions through its UOP business. The sale is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

“This allows JM to realise a very attractive valuation for this business that fully reflects its strong long-term growth prospects,” Liam Condon, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey, said.

“We will now fundamentally re-shape Johnson Matthey into a more focused and leaner business.”

The sale follows a period of internal restructuring.

In December 2024, major shareholder Standard Investments, which holds around 11% of JM’s shares, called on the company to de-risk or divest its hydrogen technologies business, citing continued losses and unclear profitability.

In January 2025, JM suspended capital expenditure on its separate green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies business, cutting annual investment to “maintenance levels” of £5m ($6.2m) or less from FY2025/26.

JM also appointed a new Chief Financial Officer in February 2025 and launched a search for its next Chair, signalling further strategic recalibration.

https://www.h2-view.com/story/updated-jm-sells-catalyst-technologies-division-to-honeywell-in-1-8bn-deal/2126458.article/

HydrogenPro has commenced production of its next-generation electrodes at a new manufacturing line in Aarhus, Denmark. This development marks a significant step in scaling up the company’s delivery capabilities and represents a major investment in its green hydrogen business.

As part of a broader collaboration with ANDRITZ, HydrogenPro recently completed a full-scale validation test of its Generation 3 electrolyzer technology at Herøya, Norway. The system operated continuously for 500 hours, confirming expected performance levels and product quality. Safe operation was maintained across the full load range – from partial load up to 115% capacity – demonstrating the robustness and industrial readiness of the technology under real-world conditions.

The validation project involved several European facilities: electrodes were manufactured in Denmark, stack assembly was carried out in Erfurt, Germany, and the system was transported and commissioned in Norway. The initiative highlights a strong European value chain for pressurised alkaline electrolyzers and supports key decarbonisation efforts in hard-to-abate sectors such as low-carbon steel production.

ANDRITZ, HydrogenPro’s project partner, recently announced a planned 100 MW electrolyzer project in Rostock, Germany. Subject to the final investment decision, ANDRITZ expects to receive the notice to proceed with the supply of HydrogenPro electrolyzers for the project.

In addition, HydrogenPro has secured a separate purchase order for electrolyzers worth USD 2.5 million from an undisclosed customer.

Source:  Hydrogentechworld

촉매 손상 현상 규명할 수 있는 ‘운영 안정성 지수’제안

연구진이 개발한 재생에너지 변동에 따른 수전해시스템의 구동 과정 중 운영 안정성 지수 모식도(좌측)와 분석결과

[수소뉴스 = 양인범 기자] 태양광, 풍력 등 재생에너지를 활용한 수소 생산 시스템에서는 에너지원의 특성상 전력 공급이 일정하지 않아, 수전해 장치의 부하가 지속적으로 변화한다.

KAIST 연구진이 이런 전력 부하의 변동이 불가피한 그린 수소 생산 환경에서, 전기 에너지 효율을 높이고 낮은 전압에서도 수소 생산 효율을 높이는 촉매의 열화(성능 저하)를 정량적으로 진단할 수 있는 세계 최초의 방법론을 제시했다.

KAIST 대학 생명화학공학과 정동영 교수 연구팀이 수전해 시스템에서 촉매의 실질적인 수명을 예측할 수 있는 새로운 평가 지표인 ‘운영 안정성 지수’를 개발했다.

연구팀은 수전해 시스템이 꺼지거나 낮은 부하로 운전될 때 발생할 수 있는 촉매 및 지지체의 열화 현상 촉매의 손상이나 성능 저하 현상을 규명하고, 이를 정량화할 수 있는 새로운 평가 지표인 ‘운영 안정성 지수(Operational Stability Factor, OSF)’를 제안했다.

운영 안정성 지수는 수전해 장비가 반복적으로 작동 및 정지(on/off)하는 과정에서 발생하는 촉매 열화 정도를 수치로 반영함으로써, 실제 운전 조건에서의 내구수명을 보다 정확하게 예측할 수 있도록 설계되었다.

예를 들어, 운영 안정성 지수가 100%이면 부하 변동 중에도 촉매가 전혀 손상되지 않는다는 뜻이고, 99%이면 매번 시스템이 꺼질 때마다 1%씩 촉매가 손상된다는 의미다.

향후 이 지표를 통해 내구성을 고려한 운전 조건의 최적화를 가능해지며, 장수명 수전해 시스템 운영 전략 수립에 중요한 기준으로 활용될 수 있다.

정동영 교수는 “운영 안정성 지수(OSF)는 수전해 촉매의 장기 수명을 수치로 예측할 수 있는 강력한 평가 기준으로, 향후 내구성 진단을 위한 국제 표준으로 발전할 가능성이 크다”고 밝혔다.

해당 논문은 생명화학공학과 박사과정 김진엽 연구원이 제1 저자로 에너지 분야 최고 권위지 중 하나인 ‘ACS 에너지 레터스(ACS Energy Letters, IF=19.3)’지에 5월 2일 자로 게재됐다.

한편, 이번 연구는 한국연구재단 소재 글로벌 영커넥트 사업, KAIST 도약과제의 지원을 받아 수행됐다.

KAIST연구진, 그린수소 생산 촉매 수명 예측 세계 첫 성공 < 실시간 기사 < 종합 < 뉴스 < 기사본문 - 수소뉴스

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▲世界初のe-メタノール製造プラント（出所：三菱HCキャピタル）

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製造プラントには304メガワットの太陽光発電設備と計52メガワットの水電解槽があり、e-メタノール生産能力は年間最大4万2000トン。同社は、商業規模でのe-メタノール製造事業は世界初で、製造規模も世界最大だとしている。

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