The new combined business unit will accelerate JM’s growth and scale-up in both markets, taking advantage of technical and manufacturing synergies, and building on JM’s decades of experience developing and manufacturing market-leading fuel cell components.
Merging both businesses builds on JM’s leading technologies, with the global hydrogen market set to grow exponentially due to clean hydrogen’s important role in decarbonisation. Demand for green hydrogen is projected to grow from a very small market today to meeting – along with blue hydrogen – the almost ten-fold increase in hydrogen demand between now and 2050, and the hydrogen fuel cell market is forecast to grow more than three-fold through to 2027.
The new Hydrogen Technologies business will be headed up by Ralph Calmes, who has been appointed Managing Director Hydrogen Technologies. Ralph, who previously led JM’s Platinum Group Metal Services business, will take up this role effective 1 October with both Eugene McKenna (Green Hydrogen) and Jo Godden (Fuel Cells) reporting directly to him. Ralph will report to Group Chief Executive Robert Macleod.
Ralph Calmes commented: “Hydrogen has enormous potential in the decarbonisation of society. Bringing together our Green Hydrogen and Fuel Cell businesses further demonstrates JM’s commitment to building the hydrogen economy and progressing towards net-zero. Our extensive knowledge in metals management, which encompasses recycling and building up steps into closed loop industries, will also enable us to leverage our world leading pgm chemistry and manufacturing experience to target rapid growth in both markets.”
Johnson Matthey’s blue hydrogen team will remain within JM’s Efficient Natural Resources sector.