Global PEM electrolyzer and GDL market assessment

ADI evaluated the market for carbon paper gas diffusion layers (GDL) within the rapidly expanding PEM electrolyzer supply chain. The research assessed the technical transition from titanium porous transport layers and modeled the impact of rising current density on future material demand. High and low cases accounted for green hydrogen production targets and announced OEM manufacturing capacities over a 10-year period.

Private equity and materials producer

A producer required a market size estimate for specialized carbon papers to justify investment in new commercial-scale capacity.

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Interviews with 35 experts across OEMs and developers confirmed the widespread replacement of titanium with carbon paper.

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Scenario modeling for market value over a 10-year period incorporated PEM efficiency, power density asymptotes, and expected price erosion.

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Analysis of announced manufacturing capacity highlighted a potential shortfall in supply relative to national green hydrogen targets.

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Technical analysis of PEM stack goals identified water treatment and gas purification as promising expansion areas for the client.

  • Justification of commercial-scale capacity expansion based on a projected annual growth rate in GDL demand.
Client Results
We used ADI to look at proprietary chemical and unconventional technologies. They provided broad landscaping and benchmarking for the market opportunities we were looking at.
Johanna Schmidtke Investment Director, Aramco Ventures

Industry experience

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Global PEM electrolyzer and GDL market assessment

ADI evaluated the market for carbon paper gas diffusion layers (GDL) within the rapidly expanding PEM electrolyzer supply chain. The research assessed the technical transition from titanium porous transport layers and modeled the impact of rising current density on future material demand. High and low cases accounted for green hydrogen production targets and announced OEM […]

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