Latent Drive has demonstrated its direct seawater hydrogen electrolyser at Portland Harbour, producing green hydrogen from untreated seawater under portside conditions.
The demonstration used the company’s SeaStack electrolyser and took place at Manor Marine’s shipyard as part of the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative Demonstration Programme, led by Connected Places Catapult.
Direct seawater hydrogen electrolyser reaches TRL 5
Latent Drive said the demonstration advances SeaStack to Technology Readiness Level 5, meaning the technology has been tested in a relevant operating environment.
The company said the system was installed in a purpose-built trailer and produced hydrogen directly from untreated seawater before safely venting it.
Connected Places Catapult previously selected Latent Drive as one of five hydrogen technology projects under the 2025/26 Hydrogen Innovation Initiative Demonstration Programme. The programme is intended to support UK hydrogen technologies across production, storage, distribution and use.
SeaStack tested with seawater, wastewater and brine
Latent Drive said the Portland Harbour demonstration also included hydrogen production from wastewaters, including sewage treatment works effluent and concentrated brine.
The company says SeaStack is designed to work directly with seawater or wastewater, unlike conventional electrolysers that typically require purified freshwater.
If proven at larger scale, the approach could reduce dependence on freshwater supplies and support hydrogen production in coastal, port and offshore environments.
Technology designed to address chlorine formation
Seawater electrolysis can create technical challenges, including the formation of corrosive chlorine compounds.
Latent Drive said the demonstrations showed how SeaStack’s hybrid bipolar plates avoid chlorine compound formation.
The company also said its proprietary electrodes, known as Catrodes®, use commercial stainless steel treated through a patented electrochemical synthesis process. Latent Drive said this removes the need for rare metals in its electrolyser production.
HydroPort project planned for September 2026
The next stated milestone is the HydroPort project, supported by Innovate UK and scheduled for September 2026.
Latent Drive said HydroPort will use green hydrogen produced by SeaStack to fuel a working vessel operating within Portland Harbour.
The company has previously said the HydroPort project received a £630,000 Innovate UK grant to trial SeaStack at Portland Port, producing green hydrogen directly from seawater to fuel a harbour patrol vessel.
Latent Drive targets larger-scale hydrogen deployment
Joseph Ely, technical director at Latent Drive, said: “We came to Portland to prove SeaStack works in the real world, and it did. That’s green hydrogen produced portside from seawater, wastewater and brine – on schedule and within our development trajectory.
“The green hydrogen market is projected to be worth over $640 billion by 2030. SeaStack is designed to address the barriers that have so far held the market back and our successful demonstration, supported and funded by the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative, shows it is primed to do exactly that.”
Latent Drive said its scaling strategy includes deployment of 500kW assets by 2027 and gigawatt-scale deployment by 2030.
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