Proton Energy Systems
Proton Energy Systems Inc., a Nel ASA subsidiary founded in 1996 in Wallingford, Connecticut, designs and manufactures PEM and alkaline electrolyser systems for industrial hydrogen production serving ammonia, power generation, steel, shipping, and renewable energy customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersWallingford, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Proton Energy Systems does
Proton Energy Systems Inc. is a US-based hydrogen technology company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut, now operating as a subsidiary of Norwegian hydrogen company Nel ASA (Oslo: NEL). The company designs and manufactures hydrogen generation equipment centered on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolyser technologies, with a product portfolio that includes the A485 alkaline electrolyser stack and the MC (containerized), C, H, and S Series PEM electrolyser systems serving industrial hydrogen users across ammonia production, power plant generator cooling, logistics, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), shipping, and steel applications at scales ranging from kW to multi-MW.
Proton's go-to-market is executed through Nel Hydrogen's global direct sales, field service engineering, and after-sales operations (NASOC), with regional offices supporting commissioning, training, and spare parts on a worldwide basis. Its legacy Proton Onsite-branded laboratory hydrogen and nitrogen gas generators — historically a core line — were phased out in October 2020, with all support transitioned to Gas Generator Solutions effective December 20, 2021. Government grant funding has totaled approximately $3.3M across 2012–2020 from the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy & Environment, and in June 2026 a federal judge ordered reinstatement of $82.1M in DOE clean energy grants to Proton and co-plaintiffs after finding the cancellations violated Fifth Amendment equal protection. Proton Energy Systems maintains independent legal standing as a plaintiff entity despite being operationally embedded within Nel Hydrogen.
Proton Energy Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Proton Energy Systems
- Legal name
- Proton Energy Systems Inc.
- Website
- https://protononsite.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Proton Energy Systems Inc., a Nel ASA subsidiary founded in 1996 in Wallingford, Connecticut, designs and manufactures PEM and alkaline electrolyser systems for industrial hydrogen production serving ammonia, power generation, steel, shipping, and renewable energy customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Proton Energy Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Hydrogen Generation Equipment
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydrogen Energy Storage & Power-to-X Equipment (electrolyzers, storage, fuel cell systems) (IMAGAHAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB)
Keywords
Where Proton Energy Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wallingford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Proton Energy Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Proton Energy Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Proton Energy Systems designs and manufactures hydrogen generation equipment based on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolyser technologies. Its product portfolio includes the A485 alkaline stack and MC, C, H, and S Series PEM electrolyser systems in containerized and rack-mounted configurations for industrial hydrogen production, power plant generator cooling, ammonia, and renewable energy integration applications.
Product overview
Proton Energy Systems, now part of Nel Hydrogen, offers a portfolio of hydrogen generation equipment centered on alkaline and PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyser technologies. The product line includes the A485 Series alkaline electrolyser stack for large-scale industrial hydrogen production, and the MC, C, H, and S Series PEM electrolyser systems available in containerized and rack-mounted configurations for flexible deployment across power plant cooling, industrial processes, and renewable energy integration applications. Previously, the company also produced Proton Onsite-branded laboratory hydrogen and nitrogen gas generators, which were discontinued in October 2020 with support transitioned to Gas Generator Solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Proton PEM Electrolysers: Proton Exchange Membrane hydrogen generation systems for various industrial applications including power plant generator cooling
- Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Hydrogen Generation Systems
Products and services
- A485 Series Alkaline Electrolyser Stack and Electrolyte System Module Large-scale alkaline electrolyser stack and electrolyte system module for proven, reliable industrial hydrogen production.
- MC Series Containerized PEM Hydrogen Generation Systems Containerized PEM electrolyser systems designed for high-purity industrial hydrogen generation with flexible deployment options.
- C Series PEM Hydrogen Generation Systems Standard rack-mounted PEM electrolyser systems designed for high-purity industrial hydrogen generation applications.
- H Series PEM Hydrogen Generation Systems High-capacity PEM electrolyser systems for large-scale industrial hydrogen production.
- S Series PEM Electrolyser PEM electrolyser systems for power plant generator cooling and other industrial applications requiring hydrogen generation.
Companies that use Proton Energy Systems
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Proton Energy Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Proton Energy Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Gas Generator SolutionssupportingGas Generator Solutions assumed all troubleshooting support, parts needs, and onsite services for discontinued Proton Onsite Laboratory Hydrogen & Nitrogen Gas Generators. GGS engineers are trained and certified to fully support all Proton Onsite products. Contact: Sales – Amanda Jo Fields, Tech Support – Marc Townsend / Nate Barreira, Tel: 800-738-1698.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Proton Energy Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nel ASA: Proton's parent company and the most direct incumbent in PEM and alkaline electrolysers. Nel sells the same MC Series, M Series and A485 alkaline products globally, making it both a sibling brand and the corporate parent against which Proton's standalone economics must be benchmarked.
- Siemens Energy (Silyzer): Operates the Silyzer line of PEM electrolysers as part of a broad grid and industrial energy portfolio. Comparable as a PEM incumbent pursuing the same industrial green hydrogen customers, though situated within a much larger diversified energy business.
- Cummins (Accelera by Cummins): Through its Accelera segment, Cummins manufactures PEM electrolysers (HyLYZER series) for industrial and utility-scale green hydrogen. A direct PEM technology peer with the backing of a much larger diversified powertrain incumbent.
Direct peers
- ITM Power: UK-listed pure-play PEM electrolyser manufacturer targeting the same industrial green hydrogen use cases (ammonia, refining, mobility) with containerized megawatt-scale units. Closest like-for-like competitor on PEM technology, end-markets and modular product format.
- Plug Power: US-based PEM electrolyser and fuel cell company with a GenDrive/GenFuel platform that competes head-to-head with Proton in industrial hydrogen generation, generator cooling and renewable-energy-coupled hydrogen production.
- thyssenkrupp nucera: German-listed supplier of alkaline and PEM water electrolysers for large-scale green hydrogen plants. Directly comparable on technology mix (alkaline + PEM), multi-hundred-MW project scale and industrial offtaker focus.
- John Cockerill: Belgian industrial group offering alkaline electrolyser stacks for large-scale green hydrogen projects. Comparable to Proton's A485 alkaline stack offering and competes for similar industrial offtakers (steel, ammonia, refining).
- McPhy Energy: France-based electrolyser manufacturer supplying both alkaline and PEM systems for industrial, mobility and energy applications. Directly comparable on technology mix and on serving ammonia, refining and mobility hydrogen offtakers across Europe and North America.
Emerging players
- Sunfire: German developer of high-temperature solid oxide electrolysers (SOEC) and alkaline technology for industrial green hydrogen. Comparable as an emerging alternative-technology competitor chasing the same industrial end-markets with a potentially lower-LCOH pitch.
- Ohmium International: US-headquartered PEM electrolyser specialist focused on modular, containerized units for industrial and mobility customers. Closely comparable on PEM technology choice and containerized form factor to Proton's MC Series.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Proton Energy Systems social profiles
Digital presenceProton Energy Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Proton Energy Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Proton Energy Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Proton Energy Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Proton Energy Systems
What does Proton Energy Systems do?
Proton Energy Systems designs and manufactures hydrogen generation equipment based on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolyser technologies. Its product portfolio includes the A485 alkaline stack and MC, C, H, and S Series PEM electrolyser systems in containerized and rack-mounted configurations for industrial hydrogen production, power plant generator cooling, ammonia, and renewable energy integration applications.
When was Proton Energy Systems founded?
Proton Energy Systems was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Proton Energy Systems based?
Proton Energy Systems is headquartered in Wallingford, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Proton Energy Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nel ASA, Siemens Energy (Silyzer) and Cummins (Accelera by Cummins). Direct peers are ITM Power, Plug Power, thyssenkrupp nucera, John Cockerill and McPhy Energy. Emerging players are Sunfire and Ohmium International.
Does Proton Energy Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Proton Energy Systems.
What industry is Proton Energy Systems in?
Proton Energy Systems's product category is Industrial Hydrogen Generation Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAHAM, Hydrogen Energy Storage & Power-to-X Equipment (electrolyzers, storage, fuel cell systems), with a secondary code of IMAEACAB, Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility). Its NAICS code is 22111 and its SIC code is 3620.