pHydrogen Raises ¥300 Million for Cost-Advantageous Seawater Electrolysis System
Key Ideas
- pHydrogen, a University of Tokyo spin-off, secures ¥300 million in funding from Incubate Fund for scaling up their innovative seawater electrolysis system.
- The system uses base metals and seawater, reducing costs and enabling on-site hydrogen production in coastal areas and large-scale supply where freshwater is scarce.
- The company's technology combines a near-neutral electrolyte and inexpensive iron-based electrodes, aiming for commercialization of green hydrogen with megawatt-class cells.
- Funds will be utilized for cell scaling, strategic partnerships, talent recruitment, and global market expansion, positioning pHydrogen as a water electrolysis equipment manufacturer.
University of Tokyo spin-off startup pHydrogen has raised ¥300 million in a seed round through a third-party allotment of shares to Incubate Fund. The funds will be used to scale up their seawater electrolysis system, which utilizes base metals and seawater, reducing both initial investment and operational costs compared to conventional systems. pHydrogen's technology aims to achieve cost reduction and supply stability of hydrogen, facilitating on-site production in coastal areas and large-scale supply in regions with freshwater scarcity. By combining a near-neutral electrolyte and inexpensive iron-based electrodes, the company is working towards commercializing green hydrogen with megawatt-class cells. The focus will be on scaling up and testing seawater electrolysis cells, establishing strategic partnerships, recruiting talent, and expanding globally. Founded in January 2025, pHydrogen is a deep-tech venture from the University of Tokyo striving to bridge the gap to mass production while advancing research and commercialization efforts.