Inergio's novel fuel cell systems get FIT support

Fuel cell systems are one of the most promising technologies leading towards a more sustainable future. However, current technologies are either extremely heavy or only relying on ultra-pure hydrogen, which extremely constrains their domain of application. Moreover, hydrogen has intrinsic issues of storage and distribution. 

Inergio has taken a unique approach to solve this by miniaturizing one of the most efficient fuel cell technologies: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). SOFCs are the only fuel cell technology that can deliver electricity using almost any kind of chemical fuel – not only hydrogen. These include high energy density liquid fuels such as propane, bio-propane, natural gas and also hydrogen. Inergio’s patented technology finds applications in off-grid industries (Internet of Things, surveillance, telecommunications) and mobile operations (drones for example). These clean, lightweight and efficient power sources provide uninterrupted power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are up to 80% lighter than competing solutions, have 20-30 times the energy density of lithium batteries and emit 60-90% less CO2 than conventional fossil fuel systems.

Inergio was co-founded by Mahmoud Hadad, Patrick Biro and Luc Conti, who aim to pave the path to market of fuel cell as a green energy solution. The cleantech start-up has benefitted from the support of Venturekick, Bridge PoC, Innobooster, ESA-BIC and Innosuisse. The FIT Tech Seed loan that Inergio just received will contribute to both technical and business developments. “We are set to run our first pilot projects in with our partners during 2021”, explains Mahmoud Hadad, CEO of Inergio. “This includes the test of units with EPFL’s Laboratory of Extreme Environments Research Laboratory (in Greenland and in Alaska) and another testing with Police Cantonale Vaudoise who is willing to test our products for their surveillance systems.”

(Press release)