BP ventures, the venture capital arm of BP, has invested in a green hydrogen start-up called Advanced Ionics. This investment aims to accelerate the growth and deployment of Advanced Ionics' low-cost Symbion™ electrolyzer technology, which is targeted at heavy industry applications. Other investors in the $12.5 million Series A Financing for Advanced Ionics include Clean Energy Ventures, GVP Climate, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The funding will be used to expand and facilitate the initial deployment of Advanced Ionics' Symbion™ water vapor electrolyzer technology. This technology is categorized as a new type of hydrogen electrolyzer that is highly valuable for expanding green hydrogen production in heavy industries.

One of the main challenges in expanding green hydrogen production is the cost and electricity requirements. Advanced Ionics' water vapor electrolyzer is designed to address these challenges. By integrating with standard industrial processes to capture available heat, the technology aims to lower the cost and electricity requirements for producing green hydrogen.

The Symbion™ system is made from readily available materials such as steels and other basic components, as opposed to the expensive metals commonly used in other electrolyzer units. In terms of energy efficiency, Advanced Ionics' electrolyzer stack requires less than 35 kWh (kilowatt hours) per kilogram of generated hydrogen, compared to the over 50 kWh per kilogram required by standard electrolyzers. This efficiency improvement could potentially make green hydrogen production cost less than $1 per kilogram at scale.

Gareth Burns, VP of bp ventures, emphasized the potential of Advanced Ionics' technology to drive down costs and disrupt the hydrogen market. He highlighted that BP has a global portfolio of hydrogen projects and is committed to investing in technologies that advance the transition to a net-zero future. The funds awarded to Advanced Ionics will be used to expand the company's team and deliver its innovative electrolyzer systems to early customers.