Startup poised to revolutionize green hydrogen production industry
Hydrogen is abundant, but obtaining it in its pure form on Earth is challenging. In nature, it almost always appears combined with other elements, like oxygen in water (H₂O). Separating them requires a large amount of energy, and that is where the real difficulty begins. In theory, green hydrogen — produced exclusively with renewable electricity — is the key to a decarbonized economy. In practice, its production remains expensive and inefficient. Large-scale production requires big electrolyzers, costly materials, and an electricity consumption that often negates the environmental benefits. But a Spanish startup called Electrógenos could change that landscape. Their team is working on a new type of advanced catalysts capable of accelerating the chemical reaction that separates hydrogen from oxygen, making the process cheaper and reducing its environmental impact.
How hydrogen is produced and the reason for its cost
The most common technique for obtaining green hydrogen is electrolysis, a process in which electricity is applied to a tank filled with water and dissolved salts. Two electrodes — one positive (anode) and one negative (cathode) — cause hydrogen atoms to separate from oxygen and accumulate as bubbles at each end. The system seems simple, but it has two major problems: electrode corrosion and high energy consumption. To reduce them, industries often coat the electrodes with platinum, a precious metal that acts as a catalyst, accelerates the reaction, and prevents wear. However, platinum is expensive in large quantities. This is where Electrógenos comes in. Their founder, Augusto Bartolomé, discovered an alternative while researching micrometric electrodeposition, a technique that allows coating surfaces with ultra-thin layers of metals. The idea: create cheaper, resistant, and more efficient multimetallic catalysts than platinum.
The inspiration behind the innovation: bubbles
During his experiments, Bartolomé noticed a curious phenomenon: the bubbles that form on the electrodes act as small air traps that slow down the process. While they remain attached, energy dissipates without producing more hydrogen. “It was like heating a pot that never boils,” he explained. Then came the decisive idea: modify the surface of the catalysts so that the bubbles detach earlier, releasing the gas faster and reducing electrical expenses. To achieve this, the team eliminated platinum and combined six different metals and minerals, forming a microtexturized structure similar to coral. The result was an electrodeposited coating that increases the contact surface with water, accelerates the reaction, and at the same time reduces material wear. All at a fraction of the cost of platinum and using abundant elements in Europe.
A possible revolution (already in real tests)
Electrógenos does not aim to reinvent electrolysis, but to improve a system that already works. According to their co-founder, Alfredo Saenger, these small adjustments allow for the production of hydrogen in more compact electrolyzers and with considerable energy savings. “We have made modest but effective changes,” Saenger points out. “The result is that producing a kilo of hydrogen costs much less, and the required equipment can be smaller and more economical.” The company is already conducting pilot tests with the Repsol Foundation and All4Zero, an industrial innovation center created by ArcelorMittal, Holcim, Iberia, and Repsol. If the results are confirmed, the technology could be scaled up to an industrial level and become widespread. Furthermore, their process is more sustainable, does not rely on imported materials from outside the continent, and aligns with the energy autonomy policies promoted by the European Union.
Green hydrogen: the fuel of the future closer than ever
Every year, billions of euros are allocated to projects that seek to reduce the cost of green hydrogen. What Electrógenos proposes is not a radical change, but a strategic improvement: to leverage what already exists, make it more efficient, and more affordable. If their technology delivers on its promises, it could accelerate the energy transition and enable hydrogen to compete on an equal footing with fossil fuels. A seemingly small step, but huge for a planet in urgent need of clean, cheap, and viable energy. [Source: ]
