Hydrogen start-up Aternium receives $1 million from state

Aternium has teamed up with Siemens for  electrolyzers, and Honeywell for AI-driven predictive maintenance and  cybersecurity. They’re even capturing byproducts—think purified oxygen and heavy water—so every drop of feedstock pulls double duty.

As an anchor partner in the MACH2 Clean Hydrogen Hub, Aternium is plugged into a regional effort spanning Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland to build out clean hydrogen infrastructure.

Aternium is banking on Siemens DRL 9 electrolyzers. Unlike high-pressure systems, the modular units run at ambient pressure with no  compression gear and up to 15% less energy loss. Each skid can crank out tons of hydrogen daily.

DRL 9 units can throttle production up or down  to match demand. When solar or wind output shifts, the system adjusts in real time, boosting efficiency and helping to balance the grid during peak demand, a release stated.

Aternium has its eye on  Kent County which has  aging chemical facilities and idle industrial plots.

The $1 million from the state will cover front-end engineering and design, permitting studies, and the first round of community outreach. At the same time, Aternium is in talks with utilities like Delmarva Power about tariff structures that reward flexibility and grid services. They’re also exploring hydrogen blends in existing natural gas pipelines to ease the transition for end users.

Meanwhile, the team’s is working to gain private investors for a Series A round, targeting federal clean hydrogen tax credits and grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. If permitting and market conditions line up, the company  could break ground by mid-2026 and deliver the first hydrogen before year’s end. 

“We’re not just putting up another plant,” says Aternium founder Andrew Cottone. “We’re sketching out a blueprint for responsible, distributed hydrogen production. With partners like Siemens, Honeywell, MACH2, and our state champions, we’re carving a path toward a cleaner, more resilient energy system.”