Agfa inaugurates best-in-class facility for green hydrogen membranes
Agfa, a global pioneer in membrane technology for green hydrogen production, has inaugurated it’s state-of-the-art facility for alkaline electrolyzer (AEL) membranes. With its new ZIRFON production site, the company is ready to meet market demand, confirming its intention to play a defining role in the scale-up of green hydrogen worldwide.
The inauguration ceremony, held on 29 September during European Hydrogen Week, was attended by the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever; Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero, and Clean Growth; and Matthias Langemeyer, Head of Department for Green Research and Innovation at CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency).
The state-of-the-art facility significantly expands the company’s capacity to manufacture ZIRFON membranes, a vital component in alkaline water electrolyzers.
The new facility is designed with modular scalability to meet soaring global demand as green hydrogen moves from niche projects to full commercialization. The expansion will benefit vital markets such as steel and chemical production, heavy-duty trucking and shipping, and large-scale renewable energy storage. Backed by an €11 million grant from the EU’s Innovation Fund, the project is positioned as a cornerstone of Europe’s industrial leadership in the energy transition.
Pascal Juéry, CEO of Agfa said:
The opening of our new ZIRFON plant is a milestone for Agfa and for the wider hydrogen ecosystem.
“We are determined to make green hydrogen an industrial reality, and this facility strengthens Agfa’s role as a key enabler of Europe’s net-zero ambitions and the global push for a sustainable energy future. As the Green Hydrogen Solutions business is one of Agfa’s major growth engines, today also marks an important step in the transformation of our company.”
Wopke Hoekstra added:
The GIGA-SCALES project leads the way in innovation and climate action.
“By advancing cutting-edge membrane technology, it paves the path for sustainable hydrogen production in Europe. This initiative not only fights climate change but also accelerates Europe’s energy independence, industrial decarbonization, and global competitiveness. Backed by the Innovation Fund, GIGA-SCALES proves what focused innovation can achieve.”
Bart De Wever, said:
Agfa-Gevaert has a proud tradition of reinvention.
“Again and again, it has shown the courage to adapt, to move forward, to be ready for the next economic age. With this significant investment in a new production hall, the company is not only securing its own future — it is securing the sustainable future of our energy and our industries. Green hydrogen is crucial for decarbonizing logistics and heavy industry, where full electrification is difficult to achieve and fossil fuels still dominate. It allows us to seek solutions for a carbon-neutral economy without taboos,”
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Agfa inaugurates best-in-class facility for green hydrogen membranes, source
