HyWatts

HyWatts is a Berkeley, California-based clean energy hardware company founded in 2023. Its core product, the Power-Plant-in-a-Box™, is a turnkey, self-contained system that generates renewable power on site with solar panels, converts surplus electricity into hydrogen stored locally in modular tanks, and converts that hydrogen back into electricity when demand peaks. The system also integrates hybrid battery storage, and is positioned as an alternative to lithium-ion battery installations and to waiting for utility grid upgrades.

The product is offered in three configurations: S (up to 1 MW) for remote EV charging stations, micro-communities and off-grid residential clusters; M (1-10 MW) for mid-sized data centers, regional microgrids and industrial facilities; and L (10+ MW) for large industrial complexes, major data centers and utility-scale applications. Capacity can be expanded by adding storage tanks rather than duplicating the whole system. The company describes its deployments as taking roughly nine months, versus multi-year timelines for new grid connections.

HyWatts has been characterized as an operator of a long-duration renewable power storage system serving power utility, transportation and housing sectors, at scales ranging from residential to community, industrial and utility.

Founding story

The founders have said they started HyWatts because power-intensive sectors such as EV charging, data centers and residential communities cannot wait for grid buildout, and because of a stated goal of providing cheaper, more sustainable electricity and accelerating decarbonization.

Business model

HyWatts sells and deploys modular hydrogen-plus-solar power systems in three size classes to project owners and operators, and has said it is finalizing long-term power purchase agreements with customers converted from letters of intent. It has also used non-dilutive government funding, including a completed Phase I SBIR grant for the Marine Corps and a Department of Energy award supporting fuel cell research.

Revenue is derived from sales and deployment of Power-Plant-in-a-Box systems and associated commercial contracts, with long-term power purchase agreements described as being finalized with early customers; the Sunnyvale pilot was described as generating revenue. Grant awards supplement funding.

Traction

A first pilot system supporting Level 2 EV charging has been deployed and operated at the Plug and Play Technology Center in Sunnyvale, CA, approaching 100 hours of use and generating revenue. The company reported six LOIs valued at more than $11.3M, two of which were converted into commercial contracts worth over $300,000, and stated targets of 100 system pre-orders by end of 2026 and $100M revenue by end of 2027. Two California projects — a Sacramento EV charging hub sized for 30+ cars per day and a 172-household community in Kerman — are slated for Q4 2026 deployment. Reported headcount is 2-10 employees.

Latest developments

As of March 2025 the company reported an operational EV-charging pilot approaching 100 hours of use at Plug and Play in Sunnyvale, six LOIs valued at over $11.3M in initial pilot projects, two LOIs converted into commercial contracts worth over $300,000, a $200,000 DOE award supporting HTPEM fuel cell research and a first HTPEM prototype, and plans for a first commercial pilot in summer 2025 and a first commercial-scale system in summer 2026. The company website lists EV charging hub and 172-household community projects targeted for Q4 2026 deployment.