Advanced Ionics raises $12.5m in bp ventures led Series A

Advanced Ionics, a US developer of a new category of hydrogen electrolysers for green hydrogen production, has closed a $12.5m Series A financing led by bp ventures.

Advanced Ionics/bp ventures

The Milwaukee-based company’s water vapour electrolyser is said to reduce the cost and electricity requirements for green hydrogen production by symbiotically integrating with standard industrial processes to harness available heat. The system is made of widely available steels and other simple materials instead of expensive metals or materials common in other electrolysers.

“bp ventures’ investment in Advanced Ionics is a powerful backing of our technology’s potential to help accelerate green hydrogen’s future and heavy industry’s shift towards decarbonisation,” said Chad Mason, CEO of Advanced Ionics. “The results we’ve achieved in our testing along with early customer interest have indicated that we are an ideal technology provider for industrial customers looking to augment, expand or replace their existing hydrogen production facilities with green hydrogen.”

Electricity use accounts over 70 per cent of green hydrogen production costs. Advanced Ionics’ electrolyser stack requires less than 35kWh per kilogram of produced hydrogen compared to over 50kWh per kilogram for typical electrolysers. According to bp ventures, this could make green hydrogen accessible for less than $1 per kilogram at scale.

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Advanced Ionics will use the funds to expand its team and deliver its next-generation electrolyser systems to early customers. The company is already demonstrating its product through a pilot program with Repsol Foundation. In addition to bp Ventures’ investment, bp will also be exploring pilot opportunities with Advanced Ionics. Other investors in Advanced Ionics include Clean Energy Ventures, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, GVP Climate,  Aster, Clean Energy Venture Group and SWAN Impact Network.

“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’s important to us to be investing in these technologies and advance the track to deploying green hydrogen. We look forward to working with Advanced Ionics on the next stage of its growth.”