Independence Hydrogen

What Independence Hydrogen does

Independence Hydrogen is a privately held, veteran-owned U.S. company operating the DeHy™ platform, described as the first decentralized hydrogen production, storage, and delivery system in the country. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, with a production facility in Petersburg, Virginia and an early production site in Ohio under development, the company produces and distributes locally sourced gaseous hydrogen at small scale across the Eastern United States rather than relying on centralized liquefaction and long-distance transport, which the company states accounts for 95% of current U.S. hydrogen movement. Its technology stack includes modular engineering for faster deployment, hydrogen recycling that purifies vented industrial H2 to SAE-J2719 fuel-cell grade, and a reported energy intensity 80% below liquefaction, with stated emissions outcomes of up to 10x cleaner than liquid H2 and 94% cleaner than diesel.

The company monetizes through two primary streams: hydrogen production and distribution (hardware sales) and bespoke turnkey engineering solutions (professional services) that include solution design, detailed engineering, and on-site development with site hosts. Pricing is quote-based under multi-year contracts, with all sales routed through direct B2B enterprise engagement rather than public channels. Go-to-market targets fuel cell producers, hydrogen-powered vehicle manufacturers, and industrial partners, and is reinforced by a strategic investment from Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (2025) and a project development partnership in ARCH2, one of seven Department of Energy Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs.

Independence Hydrogen positions itself as a "farm-to-table" alternative to liquid hydrogen mega-projects, and is targeting 300,000 tons of man-made CO2 displacement annually by 2033. The team is 11-50 employees with 50-70% military veteran representation, led by founder and CEO Bill Lehner. Capital backing includes a $30 million corporate round from Suburban Propane (2022) and the Sumitomo strategic investment, with ARCH2 participation providing a regulatory and offtake pathway for further expansion along the I-95 corridor and across the Appalachian region.

Name

Independence Hydrogen

Legal name

Independence Hydrogen

Website

https://ih2.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Independence Hydrogen is a veteran-owned U.S. company operating the DeHy™ decentralized hydrogen production, storage, and delivery platform. It serves fuel cell producers, hydrogen-vehicle manufacturers, and industrial partners across the Eastern United States via locally produced, fuel-cell-grade hydrogen and turnkey engineering services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydrogen Production and Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydrogen Storage Terminals, Depots & Bulk Logistics (Siting, Loading/Unloading) (EUAFAEAI), Hydrogen Energy Storage & Power-to-X Equipment (electrolyzers, storage, fuel cell systems) (IMAGAHAM)

Keywords

• Decentralized hydrogen production
• Clean hydrogen fuel
• Hydrogen storage delivery
• Fuel cell hydrogen supply
• Turnkey hydrogen solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hydrogen Production and Distribution: Local hydrogen production and distribution through decentralized DeHy™ platform. Farm-to-table business model enabling adoption of clean hydrogen fuel for mobility.
2. Turnkey Solutions: Bespoke engineering solutions to produce hydrogen from local resources, including solution design and development, detailed engineering with partners and site hosts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Independence Hydrogen operates the DeHy™ platform, the first decentralized hydrogen production, storage, and delivery platform in the United States. The company produces and distributes locally sourced gaseous hydrogen at small scales throughout the Eastern United States using a modular engineering system. It currently recycles vented hydrogen from industrial processes and purifies it to SAE-J2719 fuel cell-grade standard, supplying fuel cell producers, hydrogen-powered vehicle manufacturers, and industrial partners.

Product overview

Independence Hydrogen operates the DeHy™ platform as its core offering — the first decentralized hydrogen production, storage, and delivery platform in the United States. The company provides a farm-to-table hydrogen solution that enables local hydrogen production and distribution, distinguishing it from large-scale liquid hydrogen mega projects. IH currently recycles vented hydrogen from industrial processes, purifying it to SAE-J2719 fuel cell-grade standard. The modular engineering approach allows for faster scaling and deployment throughout the Eastern United States, with operations expanding along the I-95 corridor. Turnkey solutions and bespoke engineering services support fuel cell producers and hydrogen-powered vehicle manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DeHy™: The First Decentralized H2 Platform - a modular hydrogen production, storage, and delivery system that is 80% less energy intensive than liquifying hydrogen.

Products and services

• DeHy™ Platform The first decentralized hydrogen production, storage, and delivery platform in the United States; produces and distributes locally sourced hydrogen at small scales throughout the Eastern United States using a modular engineering system that is 80% less energy intensive than liquifying hydrogen.
• Gaseous Hydrogen Fuel (SAE-J2719 Fuel Cell-Grade) Gaseous hydrogen fuel produced and distributed locally through the DeHy™ platform, currently including recycled hydrogen purified to SAE-J2719 fuel cell-grade standard for fuel cell producers, hydrogen-powered vehicle manufacturers, and industrial customers.
• Turnkey Hydrogen Engineering Solutions Bespoke turnkey engineering services covering solution design and development and detailed engineering to produce hydrogen from local resources, delivered in collaboration with site hosts and partners such as Headwaters for industrial clean energy customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% less energy intensive than liquifying hydrogen
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• ARCH2 (Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependence Hydrogen is a member of ARCH2, one of the seven Department of Energy Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub selectees. ARCH2 spans three states and IH is a proud project development partner with an early production site in Ohio already under development, and a fleet business unit that will connect supply and demand within the hub and among other regional hubs.
• HeadwatersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadwaters logo appears on services page indicating a strategic partnership for hydrogen solution design and development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plug Power: Plug Power builds and operates end-to-end green hydrogen production and fuel cell ecosystems for mobility, industrial, and stationary power customers. Highly comparable vertically integrated play targeting the same fuel-cell OEM and mobility buyer with on-site H2 supply.
• Nel ASA: Nel manufactures alkaline and PEM electrolyzers and supplies hydrogen fueling infrastructure to industrial and mobility customers. Closely comparable as a hydrogen production equipment vendor pursuing decentralized fueling stations.

Broad incumbents

• Air Products: Air Products is the world's largest merchant hydrogen producer via SMR and electrolysis and operates hydrogen pipeline networks. Directly addresses the same hydrogen buyer base as IH but at gigawatt-scale.
• Linde: Linde is one of the largest industrial gases majors globally with a sizable merchant hydrogen business and major clean hydrogen projects. Competes for the same industrial off-takers and pursues large-scale and on-site H2 supply.
• Air Liquide: Air Liquide operates a global industrial gas business including bulk and pipeline hydrogen supply and is investing heavily in clean H2 production. Sells to the same mobility, refining, and industrial customers.
• Cummins Accelera: Cummins' Accelera business manufactures hydrogen fuel cell powertrains and electrolyzers for trucks, buses, and stationary power. Comparable as a vertically integrated fuel cell + hydrogen production player targeting the same mobility OEMs.

Emerging players

• ITM Power: ITM Power is a UK-based PEM electrolyzer manufacturer and turnkey green hydrogen project developer serving industrial and mobility customers. Comparable as a smaller, growth-stage H2 production equipment and project player.
• Ballard Power Systems: Ballard is a leading PEM fuel cell manufacturer serving heavy-duty mobility (trucks, buses, rail, marine). Comparable as IH's downstream counterpart in IH's direct customer segment — fuel cell OEMs that IH supplies.
• First Hydrogen: First Hydrogen is a Canada-based company developing small-scale green hydrogen production modules for commercial vehicles and industrial users. Closely comparable as a modular, decentralized hydrogen producer targeting fleet mobility.
• Hyzon Motors: Hyzon is a hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck OEM with in-house fuel cell and supply chain operations. A potential customer and adjacent peer for IH's supply of fuel cell-grade H2.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/independence-hydrogen/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Independence Hydrogen