Aberdeen Startup Makes Green Hydrogen from Seawater

Creating clean energy shouldn't cost the planet its precious freshwater, and one Scottish scientist just proved it doesn't have to.

Dr. Jani Shibuya founded Hychor, a University of Aberdeen spinout that produces green hydrogen directly from seawater. The breakthrough means coastal areas can generate clean energy without tapping into drinking water supplies that billions of people desperately need.

The company officially opened its research facility in Aberdeen this May after securing major investment funding. Hychor now employs five people and plans to launch industrial pilot projects next year.

Dr. Shibuya's journey started as a chemistry student at the University of Aberdeen, where he fell in love with electrochemistry. His PhD research focused on sustainable batteries and desalination technologies under Professor Angel Cuesta's supervision.

His academic excellence earned him a spot at the 2025 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany, an honor reserved for exceptional young researchers. He also won a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship in 2025, allowing him to work full time on turning his research into a real business.

The technology targets off-grid coastal communities and industries working to cut their carbon emissions. Instead of waiting years for major infrastructure projects, these areas could generate their own clean hydrogen fuel locally using abundant seawater.

The Ripple Effect

Hychor's approach tackles two global crises at once. Water scarcity affects over 2 billion people worldwide, and traditional hydrogen production guzzles freshwater. By using seawater instead, the technology preserves drinking water while producing zero-carbon fuel.

The company aims to maximize Scotland's abundant wind power by converting it into storable hydrogen energy. This creates local jobs in Northeast Scotland while supporting the region's transition away from fossil fuels toward diverse clean energy sources.

Dr. Shibuya credits the University's Technology Transfer Office with helping secure patents, funding, and lab space. Co-founder Alex Colledge joined as Chief Operating Officer, bringing business expertise to complement the scientific innovation.

Dr. Barbara Gorgoni from the University's tech transfer team says Hychor represents exactly the kind of ambitious, real-world innovation universities should nurture. The partnership will continue as Hychor scales up and enters global markets.

Clean energy that actually helps communities instead of competing with them for water is innovation worth celebrating.