AGC Chemicals Europe
AGCCE
AGCCE is a subsidiary of AGC Inc., Japan.
ID: 022282238437-25
Lobbying Activity
Response to Persistent organic pollutants - perfluoroctanoic acid
8 Jun 2022
AGC welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the PFTE micropowders exemption under the draft delegated regulation amending the EU POP Regulation 2019/1021 as regards PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds.
AGC supports the proposed amended wording for the entry on ‘Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds’ in point four of Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, which reads as follows:
“For the purposes of this entry, Article 4(1), point (b), shall apply to concentrations of PFOA and its salts equal to or below 1 mg/kg (0,0001 % by weight) where they are present in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowders produced by ionising irradiation or by thermal degradation as well as in mixtures and articles for industrial and professional uses containing PTFE micropowders until 5 July 2022. All emissions of PFOA during the manufacture and use of PTFE micropowders shall be avoided and, if not possible, reduced as far as possible. From 6 July 2022, the limit of 1 mg/kg (0,0001 % by weight) shall apply only to manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFOA and its salts where they are present in PTFE micropowders that are transported or treated for the purpose to reduce the concentration of PFOA and its salts below the limit of 0,025 mg/kg (0,0000025 % by weight)”.
The proposed wording will preserve multiple downstream sectors from supply shortage and avoid imports from third countries.
AGC is a world leading producer of fluoroproducts, with production sites in Japan, USA and in the United Kingdom via its European subsidiary, AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd. (AGCCE).
Please see attached file.
Read full responseResponse to A EU hydrogen strategy
8 Jun 2020
AGC is a world leading producer of fluorochemicals with production sites in Japan as well as in the United Kingdom via its European subsidiary, AGC Chemicals Europe, Ltd. (AGCCE). AGC produces fluorinated ionomers which are a critical component for renewable hydrogen production via water electrolysis.
AGC values the opportunity to submit comments on the Roadmap on the EU Hydrogen Strategy in the context of the European Green Deal and of the Green Recovery.
AGC strongly supports the development of a dedicated EU Hydrogen Strategy and its objective to set out how clean hydrogen can help reduce the EU economy’s carbon emissions in a cost-effective way. On this, AGC would like to highlight the importance for the EU to take a leading role in the field of standardisation, as a key leverage for the scale up of renewable hydrogen. Another aspect is that EU funding is critical for the further development of renewable hydrogen technologies until they become economically viable. Finally, AGC welcomes the upcoming launch of an EU Clean Hydrogen Alliance to bring together all relevant stakeholders across the value chain. This alliance should also include water electrolysis membrane producers.
Key properties of fluorinated ionomers
Fluorinated ionomers are a sub-category of fluoropolymers. Fluorinated ionomers are processed into ion exchange membranes. Ion exchange membranes present high mechanical strength, high cation permeability and selectivity as well as high chemical resistance properties, which are required for the harsh use conditions of water electrolysis for hydrogen production.
Applications of fluorinated ionomers in water electrolysers for hydrogen production
Fluorinated ionomers are essential in the following hydrogen technologies:
- Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyser (PEMEL) for water electrolysis: the key component of PEMEL is the ion exchange membrane. PEMEL of water electrolysis allows extremely fast response times (superior to alkaline electrolysers).
- PEMEL catalyst coated membranes (CCM)/membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for water electrolysis: fluorinated ionomers are used as the electrode binder to provide ion conductivity. Fluorinated ionomers are formulated as ink together with a variety of catalysts and coated on proton exchange membranes.
- Purification and compressed hydrogen by electric power: the ion exchange membranes are used in hydrogen compressors and purification using the function of proton conduction. These applications are also utilised for the peripheral equipment of hydrogen society.
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