BP has invested in Advanced Ionics, a US-based developer of “disruptive” water vapour electrolyser technology that it says has the potential to produce green hydrogen at scale for under $1/kg.

The oil and gas major led a recently closed $12.5m funding round for Milwaukee-based Advanced Ionics, alongside other investors including US-based Clean Energy Ventures, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and GVP Climate.

“Advanced Ionics’ technology has the potential to drive down cost and disrupt the hydrogen market” said Gareth Burns, vice-president of BP Ventures. “BP has a global portfolio of hydrogen projects, and as the world transitions to a net-zero future, it is important to us to be investing in these technologies and advance the track to deploying green hydrogen.”

“Advanced Ionics’ technology has the potential to drive down cost and disrupt the hydrogen market” Burns, BP Ventures

Advanced Ionics’ water vapour electrolyser, called Symbion, helps reduce the cost and electricity requirements for green hydrogen production by symbiotically integrating with standard industrial processes to harness available heat.

Electricity use accounts for more than 70% of green hydrogen production costs. Advanced Ionics’ electrolyser stack requires less than 35kWh/kg of produced hydrogen, compared with more than 50kWh/kg for typical electrolysers. This lower electricity requirement could make green hydrogen accessible for less than $1/kg at scale, BP said.

The technology is made of widely available steels and other simple materials rather than expensive metals or other materials common in other electrolysers, helping to reduce costs further.

 Advanced Ionics has said it will use the newly raised funds to facilitate the initial deployment of Symbion for heavy industry.

 “The results we have achieved in our testing, along with early customer interest, have indicated we are an ideal technology provider for industrial customers looking to augment, expand or replace their existing hydrogen production facilities with green hydrogen,” said Chad Mason, CEO of Advanced Ionics.

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Author: Stuart Penson