Rentricity Inc., a Mendham-based leader in recovering clean energy from water infrastructure, announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,454,761 B1, titled “Systems and Methods for Producing Hydrogen Gas from a Water Distribution System.”
The groundbreaking innovation expands Rentricity’s suite of clean energy technologies by enabling point-of-use hydrogen generation, directly within pressurized water distribution networks — marking a new frontier in sustainable energy recovery and water management under the brand name HydroCosm.
The patent represents more than a decade of research and development led by Frank Zammataro, CEO, president and founder of Rentricity. It builds upon the company’s 13-year commercial mission to harness “Flow-to-Wire” in-conduit hydropower systems — turning excess water pressure into clean, renewable electricity.
“This patent represents the next evolution of water-energy integration,” said Zammataro. “For over a decade, our focus has been on energy recovery within the nation’s water systems. Now, with this hydrogen innovation, we can help utilities participate directly in the clean energy economy — producing renewable energy where it’s most needed.”
Traditional water systems dissipate pressure through valves, wasting valuable energy potential. Rentricity’s patented systems convert that wasted pressure into electricity using compact turbines and generators — a technology already deployed in water utilities across the U.S.
With the issuance of this new patent, Rentricity can now leverage that same pressure to produce hydrogen gas on-site through integrated electrolysis. The patented system combines a turbine-generator with an electrolyzer to extract hydrogen and oxygen from water under controlled flow and pressure conditions.
The hydrogen can then be stored, used for on-site energy needs or distributed for broader use in fuel cells, water treatment processes or emerging hydrogen vehicles and networks.
According to the patent’s detailed description, Rentricity’s hydrogen system is designed for flexibility — adaptable to both small-scale municipal and industrial sites and larger, grid-integrated installations. The system operates autonomously using smart sensors and controllers, enabling safe and efficient hydrogen production while maintaining optimal water flow for water operations.
This innovation could transform water utilities into distributed energy producers, helping meet growing hydrogen demand for decarbonization while improving the resilience of public infrastructure.
“Hydrogen is a vital piece of our clean energy future,” added Zammataro. “And water systems — with their constant pressure and flow — are an untapped opportunity to produce it cleanly and locally.”
