Advanced Ionics, Climate Technology A startup from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is trying to lower the cost of green hydrogen by reducing the amount of electricity needed for electrolysis by 50 percent.
That’s an admirable goal, because despite all the talk about hydrogen as the “fuel of the future,” the industry is still dirty—with polluting production methods that wreak havoc on the climate.
Most of the hydrogen gas that humans produce is “grey”; Classification This means that manufacturers are relying on methane (or worse, burning coal) to use the material for fertilizer and fuel. But as climate change awareness and demand for hydrogen-powered cargo grows, so does demand for an environmentally friendly alternative. In contrast to the gray matter, “green” hydrogen uses renewable energy and electrolysis to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. It’s a climate-friendly production method, but it’s expensive because it requires tons of clean energy.
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According to Advanced Ionics founder Chad Mason, the startup’s upcoming electrolyzer “runs at 300 Celsius and uses 35 kilowatts to produce one kilogram of hydrogen” and uses industrial heat, non-ceramic materials (which operate below normal temperatures) and steam instead of liquid water. According to the CEO, “Existing technologies are generally in the 45 to 60 range. [Kilowatt-hours] Range, practically speaking.
The executive presented on stage today at the TechCrunch Disruptive Startup Battlefield in San Francisco.
There are other ways to reduce the cost of electrolysis by producing cheaper electrolyzers and limiting maintenance. “It’s okay if you don’t disclose electricity usage and lighting costs,” Mason told TechCrunch. The company aims to use 20 to 50% less electricity.
According to the CEO, interest in the electrolyzer was first sparked by ammonia fertilizer, which his family applied to crops on their farm in North Dakota. “So I understood early on the importance of hydrogen to make all these important products and chemicals, as well as the most polluting industries,” Mason said.
Armed with $4.2 million in seed funding from Boston-based Clean Energy Ventures and Texas-based SWAN Impact Network, Advanced Ionics has a ways to go. The company aims to deploy “demonstration units with a few partners” and start sales from next year, targeting a 2025 commercial launch. Then, Mason said, “we’re going to really hit the gas and try to produce as much as possible and make a big impact as quickly as possible.”
