Ecolectro Raises $10.5 Million for Anion-Exchange Electrolysis Advancements
Key Ideas
- Ecolectro, a hydrogen electrolyzer start-up, secures $10.5 million in funding led by Toyota Ventures to advance anion-exchange membrane technology.
- The funding will accelerate the development of 500 kW and 1.5 MW electrolyzers, which could reduce the cost of green hydrogen production.
- Anion-exchange membrane cells are cost-effective compared to proton-exchange membrane cells as they eliminate the need for expensive iridium catalysts.
- Ecolectro's pilot system in Massena, New York, successfully blends hydrogen into a natural gas grid at an estimated cost of $2.50 per kilogram.
Ecolectro, a hydrogen electrolyzer start-up, has raised $10.5 million in a series A funding round with Toyota Ventures leading the investment. The company plans to utilize the funds to accelerate the development of 500 kW and 1.5 MW electrolyzers based on anion-exchange membranes (AEM). Anion-exchange membranes have the potential to revolutionize green hydrogen production by reducing costs, particularly because they do not require the expensive iridium catalysts that are essential for proton-exchange membrane cells. Earlier this year, Ecolectro successfully initiated a 10 kW pilot system in Massena, New York, demonstrating the blending of hydrogen into a local natural gas grid at an estimated cost of $2.50 per kilogram. This advancement is a significant step towards making green hydrogen more economically viable and environmentally sustainable.