Asahi Kasei Corp. (Tokyo, Japan) has been awarded key regional economic incentives for its ion-exchange membrane process chlor-alkali electrolysis equipment. The incentives include financial support from Kanagawa Prefecture and the City of Kawasaki for the facilities being built in Kawasaki, Japan. For Asahi Kasei, this represents a significant milestone in accelerating its strategic portfolio transformation.
Asahi Kasei is a comprehensive manufacturer and supplier of alkaline water electrolyzers for hydrogen production. The company is building new facilities for both cell frames and membranes for electrolysis at its plant site in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, targeting a manufacturing capacity of at least 2 GW each by 2028. Together with its current capacity for ion-exchange membrane process chlor-alkali electrolysis equipment, this expansion will raise the company’s total annual capacity for cell frames and membranes to more than 3 GW. In December 2024, Asahi Kasei’s expansion proposal was selected for governmental support, reflecting expectations for strengthening industrial competitiveness and regional economic development, including in hydrogen-related markets. In October 2025, Asahi Kasei formally approved plans to construct new production facilities and has since been advancing preparations. This will help strengthen the global clean hydrogen supply base while raising Japan’s industrial competitiveness in the field of hydrogen.
Positioning its manufacturing site in Kawasaki as a key global hub for both water electrolysis and chlor-alkali systems, Asahi Kasei is concentrating resources there to establish a flexible, resilient supply platform. Backed by the various support initiatives, the company will further expand capacity while contributing to regional economic development. Looking ahead, Asahi Kasei has stated it will strengthen its technology base and supply capabilities in water electrolysis, while leveraging the complementary strengths of its hydrogen and chlor-alkali operations to build on its global competitiveness.