- Modular systems designed for compact deployment and domestic and export markets.
- Annual manufacturing capacity targeted at 1GW by 2030.
Toyota has confirmed plans to begin mass production of 5MW Proton Exchange Membrane electrolysers in its fiscal year 2029, reinforcing its strategic push into the hydrogen value chain. The announcement was made by Mitsumasa Yamagata during the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Expo held in Tokyo.
The systems are being developed in partnership with Chiyoda Corporation, combining Toyota’s fuel cell stack technology, as deployed in the Toyota Mirai, with Chiyoda’s plant engineering capabilities. The collaboration signals a move to industrialise hydrogen production technologies using proven automotive components.
Toyota’s 5MW units are primarily targeted at the domestic market in Japan, while larger 20MW systems are being developed for international deployment. Each 5MW stack is expected to produce between 96 kg and 100 kg of hydrogen per hour, positioning the technology for medium scale industrial applications.
A key differentiator is the compact footprint of the system. Each electrolyser unit measures approximately 2.5 x 6 metres, representing about 50% of the floor area required by conventional systems. This reduced footprint is expected to support deployment in space constrained industrial environments and accelerate project timelines.
Toyota and Chiyoda are targeting an annual manufacturing capacity of 1GW by 2030, reflecting growing demand for green hydrogen solutions across multiple sectors including energy, transport and heavy industry.
Ahead of full-scale production, a verification phase will begin at Toyota’s Honsha plant from fiscal year 2025. The testing programme will initially deploy a pilot system, with plans to scale up to a 10MW class installation to validate performance and operational reliability under real world conditions.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
