Green Energy Storage (GES) and RINA have signed a framework agreement to develop what the Italian company describes as a groundbreaking hydrogen battery, with the first prototype set to be unveiled in December.

The partnership will see RINA, the multinational engineering consultancy and certification group, support GES in transitioning from laboratory-scale development to a market-ready product across multiple stages of the process.

GES's technology is based on what it calls a hybrid hydrogen-liquid system using a manganese-based liquid electrolyte. According to the company, the cell integrates hydrogen production and reabsorption in a closed cycle, eliminating the need for external tanks.

RINA says the battery offers several technical advantages, including the use of abundant and recyclable materials with low environmental impact, modularity that allows scaling up to megawatt levels, and an estimated lifecycle exceeding 12,000 cycles — equivalent to approximately 15-20 years of use.

GES notes that the system incorporates in-house production of membranes and catalysts alongside AI-enabled sensors, machine learning algorithms, and an advanced battery management system designed to ensure operational safety and predictive diagnostics.

Under the partnership agreement, RINA will handle technology validation to ensure the solution meets reliability and performance standards, while also providing engineering optimisation to make the system efficient, scalable, and compliant with applicable regulations. The certification company will additionally assist GES in developing its go-to-market strategy for commercialisation in the energy sector.

The project forms part of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) programme funded by the European Union under NextGenerationEU. GES received €61.5m in funding, covering approximately 98.5% of the total project costs.

Matteo Mazzotta, chief executive officer of GES, said: "This partnership is a key milestone in accelerating the development of our technology. RINA's contribution, with its international experience and strong engineering and regulatory expertise, not only strengthens the technical soundness of our project but also confirms its value in view of future industrialisation."

Michele Budetta, chief executive officer of RINA Consulting, added: "We are delighted to support GES in the development of such an innovative and promising technology. Our role will be to guide GES from the laboratory to the market, helping to make this solution technologically robust, regulatory-compliant, and ready to meet the energy challenges of the future."

The collaboration represents RINA's continued expansion into emerging energy technologies as the maritime and energy sectors seek alternatives to conventional battery storage solutions.