#136: Cracking the Code on Low-Cost Hydrogen with Power to Hydrogen

Nov 25, 2025

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In this episode of Earthlings 2.0, we talk with Alex Zorniger, Chief Commercial Officer at Power to Hydrogen, about how new hybrid electrolyzer technology could make green hydrogen more affordable and reliable. Power to Hydrogen’s system combines the best parts of existing designs to work directly with renewable energy while using common materials like nickel and iron instead of costly precious metals. We discuss how this technology could bring hydrogen production closer to the $2-per-kilogram goal, the challenges of storing and moving hydrogen, where green hydrogen is most likely to scale first, and how it fits into the global clean energy transition.

Key Points:

Cheaper materials – Power to Hydrogen’s hybrid electrolyzer replaces platinum and iridium with nickel and iron, reducing stack costs by roughly 65% while maintaining performance.
Flexible performance – The system can operate efficiently with variable wind and solar power, allowing hydrogen production even when the renewable energy supply fluctuates.
Built-in pressure boost – By generating hydrogen at high pressure electrochemically, the system reduces or eliminates the need for expensive compressors, making transport and storage more economical.
Alex Zorniger, Chief Commercial Officer at Power to Hydrogen, LinkedIn
Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability
LinkedIn
Episode #12: Flying the Sustainable Skies
Note on hydrogen from the episode: high pressure doesn’t make hydrogen more stable; it just makes it easier to move and store
Hydrogen Delivery | Department of Energy
Hydrogen Storage | Department of Energy

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