5 Liquid Hydrogen Startups Transporting without Pressure and Cryogenic Temperatures
Liquid hydrogen, known for its high energy density and zero-emission potential, offers a promising solution to the limitations of current energy carriers.
Unlike compressed hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen is more efficient in storage and transport. It is a game-changer for various industries, including transportation and aerospace.
This article explores five growth-stage startups in the hydrogen storage sector working on solving critical challenges with liquid hydrogen.
These startups have the potential to grow rapidly, are in a good market position, or can introduce game-changing technology to the market in the next 2-3 years.
This makes them a great option to partner, collaborate, or acquire.
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1. Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Using Aromatic Heterocycles as Hydrogen Carriers
| Founding Year | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Shaanxi Province, China |
| Total Funding Amount | CN¥100 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Series A/CN¥100 Million |
| Website | http://www.hydrotransformer.cn/ |
Traditional hydrogen storage systems, like high-pressure gas or liquid hydrogen tanks, are often expensive and energy-intensive.
These methods pose significant safety risks due to hydrogen’s high flammability and low volumetric energy density. All these factors hinder hydrogen’s widespread adoption and practicality as a clean energy carrier.
Hydrogen Energy Technology tackles these issues by using aromatic heterocycles as carriers for reversible hydrogen storage and release. Based on autonomous catalytic processes, this technique allows for safe, large-scale, cost-effective hydrogen storage and transportation.
The startup’s innovative approach includes creating skid-mounted hydrogen storage and discharge pilot equipment. This equipment can handle 10 m³/h, facilitating the practical application of this technology.
Unlike high-pressure or cryogenic storage methods, aromatic heterocycle-based storage enables hydrogen storage at ambient conditions.
This technology reduces the risks associated with high-pressure systems and improves storage density.
Dr. Wang Bin is the CEO, Founder, and Chairman who manages Hydrogen Energy Ltd. along with other team members.
The startup raised CN¥100M in its last Series A funding round on 1st November 2023. It was led by Shenzhen Guozhong Venture Capital Management.
2. OCOchem Liquifying Hydrogen with Carbon Flux Electrolyzer
| Founding Year | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Washington, United States |
| Total Funding Amount | $11.6 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/$5 Million |
| Website | https://ocochem.com/ |
Traditional fossil fuel-based chemical, material, and fuel production processes harm the environment and have a substantial carbon footprint. The production and consumption processes emit more CO2 by weight than the finished products.
Green hydrogen is a potential alternative to fossil fuels but has low volumetric density and a highly flammable nature. These properties hinder its storage and distribution with high costs and safety concerns.
OCOchem developed the Carbon Flux Electrolyzer™, which converts CO2, water, and electricity into formate, an organic molecule, and oxygen. This technology mimics photosynthesis but produces liquid formate instead of carbohydrates.
The process utilizes recycled carbon dioxide and operates efficiently at room temperature and pressure, using tin metal as a catalyst. OCOchem’s technology also includes a proprietary extractive distillation process to purify formate products like formic acid to commercial-grade standards.
OCOhem’s Carbon Flux Electrolyzer™ facilitates a net 6-7 times reduction in the amount of CO2 produced than formate, which is significantly lower than traditional fossil-based processes.
The formate or green hydrogen produced with this startup process is a stable, non-flammable liquid. As a sustainable and cost-effective storage and transportation alternative, it slashes green hydrogen distribution costs by 90%.
CEO and co-founder Todd Brix is leading this startup to success with his team. He has experience in Managerial and Directorial roles with companies like Microsoft and Intel. Brix holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. from the University of Washington.
OCOchem raised $5 Million in its latest seed funding round on October 27, 2023, led by TO Ventures. Other lead investors backing this startup include the US Department of Energy, the US Army, the Washington State Department of Commerce, and ARPA-E.
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3. KONTAK Transporting Liquid Hydrogen as Ammonia
| Founding Year | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Washington, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $225K |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Grant/$225K |
| Website | https://kontakhydrogenstorage.com |
There is a critical need for efficient, safe, sustainable hydrogen production, storage, and transportation solutions. The current hydrogen economy faces high production costs and inefficient storage methods. Also, conventional hydrogen production from fossil fuels has a significant environmental impact.
The lack of infrastructure and technology for efficient hydrogen release and utilization deters its integration into other energy sources.
KONTAK has developed innovative technologies, including its patented Hydrogen Release Module and the Kontak 20•80™ Fuel concept. The release module facilitates efficient hydrogen extraction from ammonia using a proprietary catalyst and precise temperature control.
This process allows for the safe and efficient release of hydrogen from ammonia, a stable and easily transportable carrier.
The Kontak 20•80™ Fuel, a blend of 20% hydrogen and 80% ammonia, can be used in diesel engines with minor modifications as a practical, lower-emission fuel alternative.
The startup Hydrogen Release Module boasts an 80% efficiency rate and can be scaled for use in small-size drones to a big cargo ship. Its solutions are safer and more cost-effective. These can potentially store 2x hydrogen as compressed methods, and that too, at much lower pressures and without cryogenic temperatures.
These innovations promise to reduce the cost of hydrogen to less than $3.00 per kilogram by leveraging green ammonia.
Bart Norton is the Founder, CEO, Chairman of the Board, and president of Kontak. He holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University – Tepper School of Business and a BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University.
The startup received a $225K grant from the National Science Foundation on July 10, 2017.
4. NEOEx Systems Increasing UAVs Range with Liquid Hydrogen Systems
| Founding Year | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Illinois, United States |
| Total Funding Amount | Publicly Not Disclosed |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Grant/900K |
| Website | https://neoexsystemsinc.com/ |
Due to current battery and fuel technology constraints, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have limited flight duration and range.
The challenge lies in enhancing the operational capabilities of UAVs to support longer-duration flights and extended ranges without frequent refueling or recharging. This is essential for applications in surveillance, logistics, environmental monitoring, and other sectors requiring prolonged aerial operations.
NEOEx Systems developed the EXTreme ENDurance EXTEND Energy and Power System alongside the LH₂Direct Liquid Hydrogen Refueling System to address these challenges of UAVs.
The technology allows for the integration of liquid hydrogen and fuel cell technology, which results in a much higher energy density and efficiency. This enables extended-range missions, reduces refueling downtime, and enhances these aerial vehicles’ operational capabilities.
NEOEx Systems technology uses liquid hydrogen as an energy carrier. It increases flight duration to 20x longer than traditional battery-powered UAVs.
Mark Haberbusch is the Founder, President, and CEO of this startup. He has experience as the Director of Research and Technology at Sierra Lobo and as a Senior Research Associate at Ohio Aerospace Institute.
Haberbush holds a Master of Science (MS) in fluid and Thermal Engineering Science from Case Western Reserve University.
NEOEx Systems received a grant of 900k in its last funding round held on 01 January 2021. The startup is backed by the United States Department of Defense, the Innovation Fund of Northeast Ohio, and the US Department of Commerce.
5. HySiLabs/HSL Came Up With A New Silica Based Hydrogen Carrier “HydroSil”
| Founding Year | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France. |
| Total Funding Amount | €16.2 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Series A/€13 Million |
| Website | https://www.hsl.tech/ |
The existing hydrogen transport and storage methods are either too costly, energy-intensive, or pose safety risks due to hydrogen’s highly flammable nature. These limitations hinder the broader adoption and utilization of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source, especially in regions far from hydrogen production sites.
To address these logistical and economic challenges in the hydrogen energy sector, HySiLabs has developed “HydroSil,” a patented liquid silicon hydride derivative, as an innovative hydrogen carrier technology.
This solution locks hydrogen within a silica-based liquid carrier and helps safely and efficiently transport and store it.
The stored hydrogen can be released on demand at the point of use without external energy input. Energy is only required to lock the hydrogen into the carrier and not for release.
The carrier is stable, non-toxic, and non-explosive. It can be transported and stored using existing infrastructure at ambient conditions.
HSL’s technology is at a functional prototype level (TRL 5).
Pierre-Emmanuel Casanova is leading this startup with his expert team. He was a co-founder of a project startup called e-Balance. His work experience also includes managerial positions handling projects and products in companies such as Cisbio Bioassays, I-Stem, and Clinique Monticelli.
Pierre holds three master’s degrees in management and one master of science in Biotechnology and Sustainable Development.
In its last Series A funding round, on Jan 31, 2023, HySiLabs raised €13 Million. Equinor Ventures was the lead investor in this round. The venture firm has made 33+ investments in the energy sector in the last 3 years. It has invested in growing energy sector startups/SMEs in the US and UK, like Nth Cycle, Electric Hydrogen, Sapphire Technologies, Semodia, etc.
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Author: Naveen Kumar, Marketing.
