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Vema Hydrogen, has successfully raised $13 million in an oversubscribed seed round, drawing strong investor confidence in its Stimulated Geologic Hydrogen (SGH) technology. Extantia Capital and Propeller Ventures spearheaded the funding, with additional backing from Zero Carbon Capital, Pace Ventures, and returning investor Grantham Foundation. This infusion of capital will propel the development of North America's first full-scale SGH pilot wells, a crucial step in proving the commercial viability of this revolutionary process.
Vema Hydrogen is rewriting the rules of hydrogen production, offering an abundant, cost-effective, and low-carbon alternative to conventional methods. Unlike electrolysis or steam methane reforming—which require massive energy inputs and emit significant CO₂—SGH taps into naturally occurring underground reactions to generate hydrogen with minimal environmental impact.
At the heart of this breakthrough is a simple yet powerful process: a brine solution, enriched with catalysts, is injected into shallow geological formations, which react with iron-bearing minerals to produce hydrogen. This gas can then be harvested for electricity generation, heating, or as a feedstock for green chemicals and fuels—unlocking a scalable pathway to decarbonization.
Crucially, SGH stands apart from traditional geologic hydrogen exploration, which relies on unpredictable natural reservoirs. Instead, Vema's technology offers precision-engineered hydrogen production, allowing for greater control over flow rates, gas composition, and geographical scalability—a game-changer for the hydrogen economy.
Yair Reem, Partner at Extantia Capital, said: The way that we see it, if white hydrogen is like digging for gold, Vema’s approach is like alchemy.
“They don’t rely on exploration luck but rather create their own luck and will almost always strike ‘white gold.’ It’s a game-changer for what is poised to be the most important discovery in energy in our lifetime.”
Founded in early 2024 at the Marble venture studio, Vema Hydrogen is led by a team built for impact.
Dr. Florian Osselin, a pioneering researcher and the originator of SGH technology, laid the scientific foundation for this breakthrough. His seminal research on stimulated geologic hydrogen has redefined the sector.
Pierre Levin, a serial entrepreneur with deep expertise in natural hydrogen and resource industries, brings the commercial acumen needed to scale Vema into a market leader.
Together, they are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in clean hydrogen production.
The world’s hunger for hydrogen is soaring. In 2023, global demand hit 97 million tonnes, representing 2.5% of global energy consumption—yet the industry remains heavily reliant on high-emission production methods. By 2050, demand will skyrocket to nearly 600 million tonnes annually, fueling an estimated $1.4 trillion market.
Pierre Levin, Vema’s CEO, said: The energy transition and emerging uses of hydrogen have spurred demand for clean hydrogen. However, existing decarbonised hydrogen production methods simply don’t work—they are too costly and energy-intensive. Vema is here to change that,
“It’s time to unlock a new era of scalable, low-carbon hydrogen. Our approach delivers cost-competitive clean hydrogen, even compared to natural gas. There are abundant stimulable rocks worldwide to produce for thousands of years, and we can’t wait to get started.”
Vema Hydrogen aims to bridge the gap between current low-carbon production and future hydrogen needs, offering a scalable, cost-efficient alternative that could redefine the industry.
Armed with fresh funding, Vema Hydrogen is now laser-focused on launching its North American pilot wells—a significant milestone in proving SGH’s commercial viability. By eliminating the environmental drawbacks of legacy production and leveraging the Earth's natural chemistry, Vema is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the race toward a clean hydrogen economy.
As global decarbonization efforts accelerate, Vema’s breakthrough approach could be the missing link in the world’s transition to a sustainable, hydrogen-powered future.