NewHydrogen, Inc., the California-based developer of a thermochemical water-splitting technology known as ThermoLoop, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab to evaluate a facility in Orangeville, Utah, as a potential host site for the company's first pilot plant deployment.

The announcement, made on September 15, 2026, marks a significant step for the OTCQB-listed company as it works to move its hydrogen production technology from laboratory validation toward real-world deployment. The collaboration is non-binding and centers on an initial site assessment of USREL's Orangeville facility.

What the Collaboration Entails

Under the terms of the non-binding agreement, NewHydrogen and USREL will jointly evaluate the Orangeville facility's site infrastructure, utility capacity, and permitting considerations as they relate to hosting a ThermoLoop system.

The findings from this assessment are expected to inform a future siting decision as NewHydrogen advances toward what it describes as its first pilot plant deployment.

The pilot plant, as described by the company, would be a small-scale system designed to test and validate ThermoLoop technology before any commitment to full-scale commercial production. NewHydrogen characterized it as a bridge between its existing Engineering Test Unit and gigawatt-scale green hydrogen production.

Steve Hill, CEO of NewHydrogen, said site selection is a critical step in the company's development trajectory. "USREL's infrastructure and energy sector expertise make it a compelling location to evaluate as we plan our next phase of development," Hill said in the announcement.

About the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab

The Utah San Rafael Energy Lab is a unit within the Utah Office of Energy Development, the state's primary office for advancing energy and mineral development.

USREL is described as a multidisciplinary research facility supporting applied research and technology development across nuclear, fossil, and renewable energy systems.

Management of the San Rafael State Energy Lab was transferred to the Utah Office of Energy Development in 2023 under H.B. 410. The lab's stated mission is to foster innovation and support technological developments in the energy sector through engagement with industry leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders.

How ThermoLoop Works

ThermoLoop is NewHydrogen's core technology, built around a thermochemical process that uses heat to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The company positions the technology as an alternative to electrolysis, which is currently the most common method for producing clean hydrogen and relies on electricity to drive the water-splitting reaction.

According to NewHydrogen, using heat directly in place of electricity can dramatically reduce production costs. The company identifies large-scale heat sources, particularly small modular nuclear reactors, as a primary input for the process. NewHydrogen is conducting its research in collaboration with a team at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The company notes that hydrogen is used across a wide range of industrial applications, including the production of fertilizers, steel, glass, and pharmaceuticals, as well as in transportation and oil refining. It also points out that nearly all hydrogen currently produced globally is derived from hydrocarbons such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Broader Market Context

NewHydrogen has cited a Goldman Sachs estimate placing the future market value of the clean hydrogen economy at $12 trillion. The company's stated goal is to produce what it calls the world's cheapest clean hydrogen, leveraging the relative abundance and renewability of water as a feedstock compared to fossil fuel sources.

In separate announcements made in the weeks prior to this collaboration, NewHydrogen disclosed that it had filed a third patent to protect its ThermoLoop technology and had revealed plans for a nuclear-powered clean hydrogen solution aimed at addressing what the company described as a USD 5 trillion annual global energy market demand. Those announcements were made on September 1, 2026, and July 29, 2026, respectively.

Next Steps

The outcome of the initial site assessment at the Orangeville, Utah facility will determine whether the location proceeds as a candidate for hosting a ThermoLoop deployment.

NewHydrogen has indicated that the findings will directly inform its decision-making as it moves toward establishing its first pilot plant, which would serve as the critical intermediate step between its current engineering test work and any future commercial-scale operation.

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