Joint Venture for Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEA) Started Operations
Umicore and Solvay announce today that operations have started earlier this month at SolviCore, their joint venture for the research, development, production and sales of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEA) and related compounds, to be used in Fuel Cell (FC) applications. The 50-50 percent joint venture is based in Hanau, at Umicore's main R&D site in Germany and will employ 34 people in the first stage of its development.
The European Commission considers that SolviCore raises no competition concerns and cleared its creation last June under the simplified merger review procedure.
In parallel with the start of its own activities, SolviCore intends to apply for European Union research funding available under the 7th Framework programme (2007-2013). Hydrogen power and fuel cells have already been identified among the priorities of European Union research efforts aiming at fostering sustainable development and environmentally friendly transport.
Umicore and Solvay, two world-scale industrial groups which respectively enjoy a global leading position in precious metals catalyst and polymer membrane technology, have the ambition to play a major role in the emerging fuel cells technology. In the JV they will assemble electrocatalysts with polymer membranes to develop and manufacture the Membrane Electrode Assembly, the reactor where hydrogen reacts with oxygen to generate electricity.
Fuel cell technology is based on the catalytic transformation of fuel (hydrogen, methanol,..) -- via chemical reaction with oxygen -- into electricity, heat and water. It is likely to become the new energy technology in the medium and long term future for a wide variety of portable (for example batteries), stationary (for example power and heating cogeneration) and automotive applications.
The parent companies will continue their respective activities in catalysts and membranes in full ownership, outside of the JV.
UMICORE is a materials technology group. Its activities are centered on four business areas: Advanced Materials, Precious Metals Products and Catalysts, Precious Metals Services and Zinc Specialties. Each business area is divided into market-focused business units. The Umicore Group has industrial operations on all continents and serves a global customer base; it generated a turnover of EUR 6.6 billion in 2005 and currently employs some 14,000 people. Details are available at www.umicore.com
SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 30,000 people in 50 countries. In 2005 its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.6 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. SOLVAY (Euronext : SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. Details are available at www.solvay.com
NOTE TO THE EDITORS The MEA is the core of the fuel cell: it consists of a membrane which separates the electrode-catalyst material coated on both surfaces of the membrane to allow for the chemical transformation of fuel into electricity. The catalytic process on the anode (oxidation of fuel) and the cathode (reduction of oxygen) sides of the membrane generate electricity, heat and oxidation waste products. Mainly methanol (portable applications) and hydrogen (stationary and automotive applications) are used as fuel. The advantages of the fuel cell-technology are the higher energy yield and density and in the case of automotive, generates water as a waste product.
