China / Canada – Ballard Power Systems Inc, a manufacturer of fuel cell systems based in Burnaby, British Columbia, as part of plans to expand its global manufacturing footprint has announced plans to invest some USD130 million over the next three years to establish a new China headquarters, membrane electrode assembly (MEA) manufacturing facility and R&D centre at a site strategically located at the Jiading Hydrogen Park (Shanghai), which is one of China’s leading automotive industry clusters. (Ballard has signed a formal investment agreement with the Government of Anting in Shanghai’s Jiading District, as part of this agreement).

The new MEA manufacturing facility will target an annual production of 13 million membrane electrodes, which will result in the manufacture of up to 20,000 engines. The plant is scheduled to be operational by 2025. Ballard said it expects to be able to achieve significant capacity expansion of this facility in future phases with much lower capital requirements. The facility is also to include space to assemble approximately 600 engines annually to support the production and sale of Ballard engines in the rail, marine, off-road and stationary markets in China, as well as for certain export markets.