Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has invested in Koloma, a Denver-based geologic hydrogen startup, through its subsidiary, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA). The investment places MHIA among a syndicate of backers, which includes Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, United Airlines’ Sustainable Flight Fund, and Energy Impact Partners.
Koloma specializes in the discovery and commercialization of geologic hydrogen, using proprietary technology and data. Geologic hydrogen, produced through natural water-rock reactions like serpentinization, is considered a potentially renewable energy source. Research suggests that these geological processes naturally replenish up to 23 million tonnes of hydrogen annually, or 30% of the current global hydrogen demand.
“Building a hydrogen solution ecosystem is one of the core strategies in the energy transition business for MHI,” said Takajiro Ishikawa, President and CEO of MHIA. “We aim to accelerate the hydrogen economy by offering cutting-edge technologies and enabling breakthrough innovations through investments in startups.”
Koloma is working to identify and appraise hydrogen-rich assets globally as the industry seeks scalable solutions for decarbonization. Earlier this year, Koloma was awarded $900,000 by ARPA-E to further its exploration efforts. The company has also partnered with Xcalibur Smart Mapping to enhance the discovery of hydrogen resources using advanced mapping technologies.
The partnership aligns with growing global interest in hydrogen as a key component in reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy sources.