Ecolectro is a company that is transforming green hydrogen production with the groundbreaking Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) technology. This technology enables affordable and sustainable hydrogen generation without the need for expensive materials like iridium or harmful PFAS chemicals. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Ecolectro CEO Gabriel Rodríguez-Calero to learn more about the company.
Gabriel Rodríguez-Calero’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Rodríguez-Calero said:
“I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where I earned my degree in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. I then pursued graduate studies at Cornell University, completing a PhD in Chemistry. While at Cornell, I had the opportunity to meet my co-founder, Dr. Kristina Hugar, who also holds a PhD from Cornell. We founded Ecolectro, where I serve as the Chief Executive Officer and a Director.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Rodríguez-Calero shared:
“The company emerged from Kristina and my shared vision of transforming hydrogen production by addressing its critical challenges. Traditional proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers rely on iridium, a rare and expensive metal, driving up costs and limiting scalability, while also using PFAS, toxic “forever chemicals” facing increasing regulatory scrutiny. These issues make hydrogen production costly, environmentally problematic, and unsustainable. Kristina’s breakthrough membrane, developed during her Ph.D. at Cornell, eliminates the need for iridium and PFAS, dramatically reducing costs and improving sustainability. Combining her revolutionary technology with my expertise in material science and electrochemical systems allowed us to create scalable, affordable hydrogen solutions for industries that batteries cannot decarbonize.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Rodríguez-Calero reflected:
“One of my favorite memories was when we successfully demonstrated our first electrolyzer prototype. Seeing years of research, development, and teamwork come to life was incredibly rewarding. It wasn’t just about the technology working—it was the culmination of our team’s passion, resilience, and collaboration. That moment reminded me why we started Ecolectro: to make a real impact on the world through sustainable innovation.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Rodríguez-Calero explained:
“Ecolectro’s core product is an Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, designed to deliver the lowest-cost green hydrogen on the market at under $2.50/kg with over 74% efficiency. This breakthrough is made possible through our proprietary membrane chemistry, which replaces rare and harmful materials like iridium and PFAS chemicals with readily available, recyclable, and eco-friendly alternatives. This ensures dramatically lower production costs and a reduced environmental footprint.
The key features of our electrolyzers include:
— Low-Cost Production: Current green hydrogen prices can be as high as $25 per kilogram delivered in New York and around $34.55 per kilogram at the pump in California. Our use of abundant, affordable materials and a streamlined design minimizes costs, delivering hydrogen at under $2.50/kg—making it a game-changer in green hydrogen production.
— High Performance: Ecolectro’s electrolyzers combine affordability with exceptional performance, achieving over 74% efficiency and durability that rivals PEM and alkaline systems. This unique balance of cost-effectiveness and reliability sets a new standard in green hydrogen production.
— On-Site, Scalable Hydrogen Production: One of the highest hydrogen costs is transportation, which can add as much as $7 per kilogram for a typical journey. Ecolectro’s modular electrolyzers enable hydrogen production directly at the customer’s location, eliminating transportation costs, preventing hydrogen losses, and reducing emissions from transport trucks. Additionally, their scalability allows customers to expand hydrogen production as their demands grow, offering a flexible and future-ready solution.
— Iridium-Free Technology: A key driver of our affordable pricing is our membrane’s ability to perform without relying on expensive materials like iridium, commonly used in PEM electrolyzers. Over the last decade, iridium prices have risen by over 460% and can account for as much as 80% of the cost of electrolyzers. This expense impacts the initial purchase price and the stack replacement costs, which are required every 8-9 years. As a result, customers are essentially exposed to the fluctuations in iridium prices throughout the product’s life, not just at the time of purchase.
— PFAS-Free Design: While not often discussed, many current electrolyzer solutions rely on PFAS, the harmful “forever chemicals” known for their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. At Ecolectro, we completely eliminate PFAS, instead using eco-friendly, fully recyclable materials. This makes our technology truly green and regulatory-compliant as more states move to regulate or ban PFAS entirely.
— Hydrogen-as-a-Service Model: We are developing a “hydrogen-as-a-service” model that allows us to potentially lease, operate, and own the units, offering customers a fixed lease payment and term. This approach eliminates the need for costly capital investments and specialized internal expertise, making the transition to green hydrogen simpler, more affordable, and accessible to a broader range of customers.
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Rodríguez-Calero acknowledged:
“Fundraising in the hydrogen sector can be challenging due to the significant upfront costs of scaling innovative technologies. However, we successfully navigated this by leveraging private and public funding sources. We recently closed a Series A funding round led by Toyota Ventures Climate Fund, with additional support from investors such as Popular Bank’s Impact Fund, Cornell University, DNX, Starshot Capital, New Climate Ventures, and Techstars Ventures.”
“In addition to private investment, we utilized government-supported programs from the Department of Energy (DOE), including ARPA-E and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), as well as funding from New York State’s NYSERDA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). These grants have provided critical funding and validation for our technology. These partnerships bolstered our financial resources and helped establish Ecolectro as a credible innovator in green hydrogen production. By combining private investment with government support, we’ve successfully overcome financial challenges and accelerated the commercialization of our sustainable, cost-effective electrolyzers.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Rodríguez-Calero noted:
“Since its inception, Ecolectro has significantly advanced its technology to enhance the efficiency and affordability of green hydrogen production. Initially focused on developing anion exchange membranes, the company successfully integrated these membranes into high-performance electrolyzer stacks and used them to develop high-performing electrolyzers. This integration has achieved production rates exceeding 4 A/cm² and cell efficiencies of over 74%, all without relying on costly materials like iridium or titanium. These technological advancements have enabled Ecolectro to produce green hydrogen at costs below $2.50 per kilogram, positioning the company as a leader in the green hydrogen sector. The company’s commitment to innovation continues to drive the evolution of its technology, aiming to reduce costs further and improve performance in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Rodríguez-Calero cited:
“Ecolectro partnered with Liberty New York Gas to launch a pilot program in Massena, New York, blending green hydrogen with natural gas to heat commercial buildings. The project successfully reduced CO2 emissions by at least 5.5 kilograms per kilogram of hydrogen while demonstrating hydrogen production at under $2.50/kg—well ahead of the Department of Energy’s 2030 target of $3/kg.”
“Another critical milestone is the closing of our $10.5 million Series A funding round, led by Toyota Ventures, in November 2024. This funding round raised our total capital to $27.7 million and enabled us to accelerate the development of larger electrolyzers.”
Funding/Revenue
Are you able to discuss funding and/or revenue metrics? Rodríguez-Calero revealed:
“To date, Ecolectro has raised $27.7 million through private investment and public funding programs. Our private investors include Toyota Ventures Climate Fund, Starshot Capital, DNX Ventures, Energy Revolution Ventures, New Climate Ventures, Techstars, and more. Additionally, we have received support from government programs such as ARPA-E and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Department of Energy (DOE) and New York State’s NYSERDA.”
“We are currently focused on pilot demonstrations with select customers in critical industries to validate our 250-500 kW electrolyzers. Larger units, ranging from 1 to 5 MW, are planned for early 2026, ensuring we can meet the growing demand for scalable hydrogen production across diverse applications.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Rodríguez-Calero assessed:
“The global green hydrogen market is experiencing rapid growth, with projections indicating substantial expansion in the coming decades. In 2023, the market was valued at approximately $7.7 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 41.6% between 2024 and 2032, driven by ongoing investments and funding programs for clean fuel adoption. The market is anticipated to reach around $30.6 billion by 2030. By 2050, the green hydrogen market is projected to surpass $1 trillion annually, underscoring its pivotal role in achieving climate neutrality and transforming the global energy landscape. “
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Rodríguez-Calero affirmed:
“Ecolectro stands out by offering green hydrogen at the most competitive prices in the industry—under $2.50 per kilogram. We achieve these low costs by challenging traditional electrolyzer chemistries and eliminating the need for rare earth materials like iridium and harmful “PFAS” forever chemicals. In addition to our cost-effective technology, we focus on on-site hydrogen production, enabling customers to produce hydrogen directly at their location, significantly reducing transportation costs, hydrogen losses, and emissions from transport trucks.”
“Our proposed Hydrogen-as-a-Service model is also a key differentiator. This approach allows us to lease, operate, and own the electrolyzers, offering customers a fixed lease payment and term without needing costly capital investments or specialized internal expertise. This makes the transition to green hydrogen simpler, more affordable, and accessible to various industries. With these innovations, Ecolectro is making green hydrogen affordable and providing scalable, flexible solutions that meet the needs of both small and large-scale hydrogen users.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the future company goals? Rodríguez-Calero emphasized:
“Ecolectro is focused on scaling our technology and expanding its impact across critical industries. Our immediate goals include completing pilot demonstrations of our 250-500 kW electrolyzers with select customers validating their performance and reliability. By late this year, we aim to start taking orders and delivering these units commercially.”
“In the longer term, we plan to introduce larger-scale electrolyzers ranging from 1 to 5 MW by early 2026, addressing the needs of industrial and utility-scale hydrogen production. Additionally, we are advancing our “hydrogen-as-a-service” model, which will make green hydrogen more accessible by removing financial and operational barriers for customers. Ultimately, our mission is to lead the industry in delivering affordable, scalable, and sustainable solutions for green hydrogen production.”
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Rodríguez-Calero concluded:
“I think it’s important to reframe the current discussions about hydrogen. The global hydrogen market is currently valued at approximately $204.5 billion in 2024, and it is projected to grow to over $1 trillion by 2050—a staggering 500% increase. This growth highlights hydrogen’s role as a substantial and transformative industry, not merely a speculative alternative fuel. As the hydrogen industry expands, it will reduce reliance on foreign energy, foster local economies, and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. This is a win-win for both our country and the environment.”
“Hydrogen enjoys broad support across both political parties, with key advocates in diverse states—from California and Washington to Nebraska, Texas, West Virginia, Georgia, New York, and Pennsylvania. This bipartisan backing underscores hydrogen’s potential as a new American industry, with the promise to create high-paying engineering and support jobs, drive economic growth, and enhance energy independence.”
