An Ohio State University hydrogen exploration spinoff that's raised some $337 million to date plans to establish a lab in the west-campus green energy center designed for industry-academic collaborations.
Tom Darrah, professor of earth sciences, co-founded Koloma Inc. three years ago in the basement of Ohio State's Mendenhall Laboratory, Peter Mohler, executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge, told trustees last week.
"In alignment with our goals to retain our scientists and science here in Ohio, we’re excited to announce Koloma will represent one of the first tenants in the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center," Mohler said. "It’s a great privilege to have front-row seat to see our research and innovation ecosystem evolve in real time."
Koloma has developed technology to find plentiful hydrogen in deep underground rocks and extract it without creating more greenhouse gases – finally creating a cost-effective way to produce the clean-burning fuel. This month alone it announced a $246 million venture capital round and $900,000 research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The 66,000-square-foot Energy Advancement building at 2281 Kenny Road opened in December as a hub for research on renewable energy, smart energy systems and green mobility. Faculty and students will rub shoulders with entrepreneurs leading spinoffs and engineers from large corporations.
"We have to bring people together, and this building is built with that specifically in mind," Paco Herson, OSU's associate dean for research innovation and professor of neurosurgery, said in December.
Koloma is now based in Denver, but has maintained a Columbus laboratory. CTO Darrah is still a professor and director of OSU's Global Water Institute.
The company is "excited to expand our research and development operations" with lab space in the energy center, Paul Harraka, Koloma's chief business officer, said via email.
Columbus Inno named Koloma, which incorporated from Dublin, a Startup to Watch for 2023. The startup came out of stealth mode last summer and announced its first exploratory wells are in the Midwest.
Housing a growing spinoff still connected to OSU researchers is a perfect example of the energy center's purpose, a university spokeswoman said via email: The startup can source talent through interns and student researchers while building connections in the community and impacting the Central Ohio and state economy.
OSU Energy Advancement and Innovation Center
Lease details are not yet finalized.
The center's first announced corporate tenant is Engie, which has operated OSU’s heating, cooling and power systems since 2017 on behalf of Ohio State Energy Partners (itself a joint venture of Engie North America and Axium Infrastructure). Energy Partners donated $50 million toward construction and operations of the building.
The energy center's first-floor cafe and an outdoor plaza with plenty of seating between the energy and Pelotonia buildings are meant to inspire lots of cross traffic for even more "creative collisions," university leaders have said.
