Aternium, Inc. (green hydrogen company) has chosen Dover, Delaware, as the site of its first commercial heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen production facility, the company announced.

The project marks a significant step toward establishing domestic production of deuterium oxide, commonly known as heavy water, a strategic material that the United States currently lacks the capacity to produce at commercial scale.

Site Selection and Investment Details

Aternium has finalized a definitive agreement of sale for a site at Garrison Oak Technical Park in Dover and expects to close the transaction in mid-fourth quarter 2026.

The facility is projected to bring at least USD 226 million in capital investment to Dover, create dozens of direct and support jobs, and generate hundreds of additional construction jobs. The Dover facility is intended to serve as Aternium's flagship U.S. deployment.

In 2026, the Philadelphia Business Journal named Aternium one of the region's top ten startups to watch. The company describes itself as focused on delivering safe, continuous, and cost-effective production of high-purity industrial feedstocks, combining scientific expertise in chemical manufacturing with advanced digital technology.

Filling a Critical Gap in Domestic Supply Chains

The facility is designed to address what Aternium and state officials describe as a significant vulnerability in U.S. supply-chain resilience. The United States currently has no commercial-scale domestic heavy water production, leaving key industrial and defense sectors dependent on foreign sources for a material with broad strategic applications. Deuterium is used in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, advanced electronics, nuclear energy, defense, and emerging fusion technologies.

Dr. Andrew Cottone, Founder and CEO of Aternium, said the Dover facility would help secure domestic access to an essential strategic material. "Dover is the right location to launch Aternium's vision for rebuilding a critical American supply chain," Cottone said.

"This facility will help secure domestic access to an essential strategic material, create high-quality careers, support advanced manufacturing, and reinforce America's leadership in energy, technology, and national security."

Political Leaders Highlight Strategic and Economic Significance

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer emphasized the broader implications of the project for American industrial competitiveness. "By producing deuterium, one of the world's most critical materials for semiconductors, nuclear reactors, fusion energy, and pharmaceuticals, Aternium will become one of, if not the only, domestic producer of this essential resource," Meyer said.

U.S. Senator Chris Coons welcomed the investment as a continuation of Delaware's manufacturing heritage. "Delaware is a place where innovation and ideas become steel in the ground and jobs that you can build a good life with," Coons said, adding that Aternium's technology would grow the state's economy and create good-paying jobs.

U.S. Representative Sarah McBride also voiced support for the project, framing it as a contribution to domestic supply-chain strength and Delaware's leadership in next-generation industries.

"This project will help create good-paying jobs in our state, strengthen critical domestic supply chains, and help continue Delaware's leadership in the industries driving America's future," McBride said.

Local Officials Welcome the Announcement

Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen called Aternium's decision a defining moment for the city, citing it as evidence of confidence by innovative companies in Dover's capacity for advanced manufacturing. "We are proud to welcome Aternium and look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our community for years to come," Christiansen said.

Linda Parkowski, Executive Director of the Kent Economic Partnership, credited collaboration between the private sector and local and state partners for helping bring the project to Dover.

"This project is a testament to what can be accomplished through strong collaboration between the private sector and our local and state partners," Parkowski said. The Kent Economic Partnership serves as the economic development agency for Kent County and played a role in supporting Aternium through the site selection process.

Plans for a Broader Mid-Atlantic Production Network

The Dover facility is expected to be the first in a planned network of production sites across the Mid-Atlantic region. Aternium's broader development strategy includes additional facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, with the goal of establishing a reliable, resilient, and scalable supply platform as customer demand grows.

The company is currently advancing engineering, permitting, and stakeholder engagement activities as the project moves toward execution. Aternium stated that its development program aligns with national priorities around energy security, domestic manufacturing capacity, critical materials independence, and the growth of next-generation industrial infrastructure.

North America's Hydrogen Economy Is Moving Fast, Is Your Pipeline Intelligence Keeping Up?

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