Hgen, a California-based hydrogen startup, has secured $5 million in seed funding to commercialize its advanced alkaline electrolyzers. Leading this funding round was Seven Seven Six, with Founders Fund and Fontinalis Partners participating as well. The influx of capital will expedite the implementation of Hgen’s cutting-edge technology at various customer locations.
Hgen’s proprietary alkaline electrolyzers are a game-changer in the hydrogen industry. They boast a 20-fold increase in volume output density compared to traditional models, allowing systems to be 1/20th the size while producing the same amount of hydrogen. Furthermore, these electrolyzers are 9% more efficient than standard alkaline cells, effectively reducing both size and manufacturing costs, thus making clean hydrogen production more scalable.
Molly Yang, CEO of Hgen, highlighted the importance of their pre-assembled, modular systems in cutting costs. These systems eliminate the need for expensive custom-built hydrogen projects. Initially backed by Breakthrough Energy Fellows, an initiative led by Bill Gates promoting sustainable energy, Hgen transitioned from benchtop prototypes to large-scale demonstrations at its facility in Hawthorne.
