Ballard expands China presence

Firm to invest $130mn in new manufacturing facility and R&D centre in Shanghai

Fuel cell company Ballard Power Systems has announced it will establish a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) manufacturing facility and R&D centre in the Jiading district of Shanghai. Ballard plans to invest $130mn in the facility over the next three years, with operations due to begin in 2025. It is targeting an MEA production capacity of 13mn/yr to supply c.20,000 fuel-cell engines. The facility will also assemble 600 engines per year to supply rail, marine, off-road and stationary markets in China, as well as certain export markets. MEAs are a core technology for the production of fuel-cell engines and have been a limiting factor for Ballard’s production capabilities. The company compl