Spiral Hydrogen Secures €2.7 M to Test Bubble‑Free Electrolysis at Rotterdam Port

*TL;DR: Spiral Hydrogen has closed a €2.7 million pre‑seed round to launch a bubble‑free electrolysis pilot at the Port of Rotterdam, targeting 90% energy efficiency.

Context Current green‑hydrogen plants lose up to 30% of input electricity because gas bubbles cling to electrodes, blocking the reaction. The loss raises the levelised cost of hydrogen, making it harder for renewable hydrogen to compete with fossil‑derived fuels.

Key Facts Spiral Hydrogen, an Estonian‑Dutch dual‑use startup, claims its centrifugal, bubble‑less electrolyser eliminates bubble formation entirely. By routing gases through a porous electrode into a dedicated channel, the system reduces energy loss to 10%, delivering at least 90% efficiency. The company secured €2.7 million in pre‑seed funding, backed by byFounders, Norrsken Evolve, Superangel and €700 000 in grants from the Netherlands and Estonia. The capital will fund a pilot at the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s biggest seaport, scheduled to start in roughly two years. The pilot partners with Dutch offshore‑ammonia specialist SwitcH2.

What It Means If the pilot confirms laboratory results, hydrogen producers could cut electricity consumption by up to 20 percentage points per unit of output. Lower energy loss directly reduces the levelised cost of hydrogen, potentially making renewable hydrogen price‑competitive with natural‑gas‑based production. Successful deployment at a major logistics hub also demonstrates scalability for industrial and maritime applications. The technology’s bubble‑free design may further benefit low‑gravity environments, opening a niche for space‑mission fuel supply.

The next milestone will be the construction phase of the Rotterdam pilot. Observers will watch for performance data that could reshape cost models for green hydrogen and trigger broader adoption across energy‑intensive sectors.