SunHydrogen, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce renewable H₂ using sunlight and water, announced a major milestone in the advancement of its proprietary photoelectrochemical (PEC) H₂ production technology.

In a new strategic collaboration, SunHydrogen will partner with The University of Texas at Austin – Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) to install, commission, and operate a more than 30 m² proof-of-concept H₂ production system at UT-CEM’s H₂ ProtoHub research facility.

In a recent release, SunHydrogen announced the execution of a contract with The Process Group (TPG Engineers) for the front-end engineering design of this pilot plant. The pilot plant will feature sixteen 1.92 m² photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactor units—each the same basic unit to be showcased at the H₂ Technology Expo in Houston—totaling more than 30 m² of active area.

The reactor units will be installed across multiple panels in a modular, scalable configuration, representing the company’s first large-scale, multi-panel H₂ production system operating under real-world conditions. Designed to operate entirely on sunlight and water, the more than 30m² array will enable comprehensive performance validation and data collection to support commercial system development.

“This collaboration represents a pivotal step in bringing SunHydrogen’s vision to life,” said SunHydrogen CEO Tim Young. “Deploying a pilot demonstration system at the H₂ ProtoHub allows us to validate our technology under real-world conditions and generate the necessary data needed for commercialization. We’re proud to work with Michael Lewis and his team at UT-CEM to accelerate the path to decentralized, renewable H₂ production.”

Located on UT Austin’s J. J. Pickle Research Campus, the H₂ ProtoHub is a purpose-built facility designed to be a proving ground for H₂ technologies. Operated by UT-CEM, the site offers advanced infrastructure, safety systems, and experienced technical personnel. SunHydrogen will work closely with UT-CEM on the system assembly, installation, commissioning and long-term data acquisition of the sixteen PEC reactor units. This collaboration also contributes to broader research, workforce training, and education in sustainable H₂ technologies.

Michael Lewis, Director of the Center for Electromechanics at UT-Austin, stated, “We are excited to host SunHydrogen’s innovative technology at our H₂ ProtoHub. This project contributes to the advancement of photoelectrochemical H₂ production and aligns with our mission to support the transition to a sustainable energy future through hands-on research, industry collaboration, and education.”

Dr. Syed Mubeen, the Chief Technology Officer of SunHydrogen, stated, “This pilot takes us from lab validation to system-level testing in real-world conditions. With > 30 m² of active PEC area, we will generate critical performance data to guide commercial design. Working with UT-CEM ensures we execute this scale-up with precision, safety, and engineering rigor.”

Following commissioning, the system will operate for six months under UT-CEM oversight. The demonstration will generate valuable insights to support both technology development and broader H₂ deployment strategies.