Process

Elhytec’s technology operates through four key steps in a closed cycle:

1. A flexible aqueous electrolysis process that produces metallic zinc and protons from a saline electrolyte,
2. Storage at ambient temperature and pressure,
3. On-demand hydrogen release,
4. Regeneration to the initial state, ready for a new cycle.

Two technological variants:

• “Integrated” version: a complete system with local electrical recharge via renewable source or grid
• “H₂ generator” version: secure solid logistics, on-site hydrogen generation, off-site electrical recharge at a back-end base

Advantages

Several advantages result from the cycle and from using zinc as a decoupling vector for water electrolysis:

• Competitivness: Low Capex device (no ion/as separator), no self-discharge in storage for long-duration cycles (>12h), catalyzed H₂ release without energy input, use of recycled material
• Safety: Simple, robust, safe design; no pressurized gas accumulation; scalable without strict regulation (Seveso)
• Durability: Inorganic solution, zero emission, closed loop
• Flexibility: Electrical recharge regardless of intermittency or stop& go input.

Key innovations

Beyond the advantages of the energy cycle, several key design innovations:

• Adaptation of mass-produced industrial equipment
• Intrinsically safe hydrogen generation system
• Decoupled sizing of recharge power, energy stored, and discharge power
• Elimination of dendrite formation (a major limitation in zinc-based systems)
• Use of industrial catalyst for hydrogen generation