Jolt signs LOI with Hynfra

This partnership aims to address one of the main technological challenges in renewable hydrogen production: improving the performance and durability of electrolyser electrodes.

Addressing a key challenge in renewable hydrogen production

Renewable hydrogen plays a significant role in the transition to low emission energy systems. It has the potential to support the decarbonisation of industries such as steel, chemicals, and heavy transport. However, the expansion of hydrogen production faces technical and economic challenges, particularly in electrolyser technology. Electrodes, the core components responsible for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, remain a bottleneck due to their cost and limited lifespan.

Currently, electrodes can represent up to 25% of the total cost of an electrolyser. The limited durability and efficiency of the component increases operational expenses, raising the overall cost of hydrogen production. Improving electrode technology is essential to making renewable hydrogen economically viable and competitive with fossil fuels.

Hynfra and JOLT aim to address this issue by combining their expertise. Hynfra brings experience in developing industrial scale hydrogen and ammonia projects, while JOLT contributes its proprietary electrode technology. JOLT’s Sparkfuze™? coating process enables faster, more cost-effective production of high-performance electrodes, which could extend their operational lifespan and improve electrolyser efficiency.

Leadership perspectives on the initiative

Tomoho Umeda, CEO of Hynfra, emphasised the importance of overcoming technological limitations in electrolyser efficiency as he said: “Scaling renewable hydrogen production requires solving fundamental technological challenges. Current investments in electrolysis are significant, but without improvements in electrode performance, the process remains costly and inefficient. This partnership with JOLT is a practical step toward addressing that issue.”

Leon Rizzi, CEO of JOLT, reflected on the need for collaboration between all parts of the green hydrogen supply chain: “In order to create better components and have a meaningful impact on lowering the levelised cost of hydrogen, it is important to understand the needs of operators and to test the changes in real world environments. This collaboration allows JOLT to put our products to the test. Improving the efficiency and durability, coupled with localised refurbishment of electrodes, will help reach the cost targets for green hydrogen.”

Enhancing EU-Japan cooperation on clean energy

This announcement comes as part of the EU Business Hub mission at Smart Energy Week 2025, where 45 European cleantech companies are engaging with the Japanese market to accelerate clean energy collaboration. Both the EU and Japan have made hydrogen development a strategic priority. The EU has set a target to produce or import 10 million tpy of renewable hydrogen by 2030, while Japan is making significant investments to become a global leader in hydrogen technologies.

“This partnership goes beyond two companies; it is about contributing to the global development of the hydrogen industry,” added Umeda.

Next steps in the partnership

With the LOI in place, Hynfra and JOLT will begin working on technical evaluations and feasibility studies. The companies will also explore opportunities for collaborative research, pilot deployments, and partnerships with industrial players. Their goal is to develop practical applications for JOLT’s advanced electrode technology in large scale hydrogen production, helping to overcome one of the sector’s most pressing challenges.

The companies also invite industry stakeholders, electrolyser manufacturers, and energy investors to engage in discussions about how these advancements can be rapidly adopted to support the growth of the global hydrogen economy.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/26022025/jolt-signs-loi-with-hynfra/