A pioneering clean tech company that was spun out of Durham academic research has secured £1.5m of funding to further its development.
About H2CHP
Clean Energy Disruptor H2CHP is developing next-generation distributed electric generators for use in data centres, ports, construction, back up power, and microgrid development.
Its fuel-flexible technology, which means the high-efficiency generators can be run on hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels, and e-fuels, helps mitigate supply-chain risk, cut carbon emissions, and improve performance.
The company aims to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar global generator market, aided by rising pressure to reduce emissions and persistent grid reliability challenges.
H2CHP's technology builds on more than a decade of research led by Professor Tony Roskilly, who is part of our Department of Engineering and Co-Director of the Durham Energy Institute.
About the funding
The £1.5m of funding includes £700,000 from Innovate UK's investor partnership programme, £500,000 from Blackfinch Ventures, and £300,000 from the North East Spinout Inspire Fund.
The £22.5m North East Spinout Inspire Fund is backed by the universities of Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside and the North East Combined Authority (via the North East Fund). It has been set up to commercialise the research and innovation emerging from North East England's five universities. The Fund is being managed by Northstar Ventures.
H2SCHP is the first Durham University spinout company to receive Inspire funding.
From the outset, H2CHP has been about translating advanced research in free-piston engine systems into a commercially meaningful power generation technology. This support is a strong endorsement of the progress the company has made and of the wider potential for high-efficiency, fuel-flexible generation to play an important role in the transition to lower-carbon, more resilient energy systems.
