The Battery That Makes Its Own Hydrogen

A new containerised Battery-Electrolyser system is redefining what rural electrification can look like—storing energy like a conventional lead-acid battery, then flipping into hydrogen production with a simple overcharge. This dual-purpose tech is headed to a school in Zambia, where it will power classrooms and teachers’ homes while delivering clean, smoke-free hydrogen for cooking, replacing wood and biomass that drive deforestation and deadly indoor air pollution. With 160 cells turning water into hydrogen and oxygen, compressed on-site for everyday use, the system offers a compelling pathway to renewable, locally produced energy in regions with low grid access. And beyond Africa, its creators see a future coupling the Battery-Electrolyser with intermittent renewables like wind, unlocking flexible, distributed hydrogen generation anywhere the grid falls short.