Nordic Hydrogen’s Innovative Power-to-X Technology Set to Revolutionize Green Hydrogen Production

By reorienting the technology for hydrogen production by 90 degrees, Nordic Hydrogen expects to produce green hydrogen at half the cost of its competitors. On the path to a commercial product, the company has received support from Denmark’s largest accelerator for energy companies, Beyond Beta, which also aids other entrepreneurs focusing on eco-friendly energy technology.

“Just do it.”

This message from Sarah Groot Shapel, founder and CEO of the electrolysis company Nordic Hydrogen, might sound like a sports brand ad, but her message is directed at young companies aiming for rapid technology development, networking, and commercialization.

“As a physicist and researcher, pitching my product to investors and business contacts wasn’t my forte. My primary focus has been on technology development, but Beyond Beta Energy provided me with new business knowledge and contacts that accelerated my company’s market progress,” says Sarah Groot Shapel.

In late 2023, Nordic Hydrogen participated in the Danish accelerator program Beyond Beta Energy for three months, which supports Danish entrepreneurs working on new green technologies for the global market. During the program, Sarah Groot Shapel received business development advice and networking opportunities, including an advisory board of experienced industry professionals.

“By joining Beyond Beta Energy, Danish companies like Nordic Hydrogen can gain market insights and networking opportunities to create the best conditions for growth. We are pleased to have helped Sarah’s startup move towards increased innovation and business understanding, and we are ready to assist others who, like Nordic Hydrogen, want to move forward quickly,” says Søren Røn, CEO of Next Step Challenge, which manages Beyond Beta Energy on behalf of Denmark’s national energy cluster, Energy Cluster Denmark.

Impatient Green Entrepreneur

During her PhD studies in electrolysis at DTU, Sarah Groot Shapel sought to apply her knowledge in a startup environment where action was immediate. After a brief stint at a company that wasn’t her own, she decided to start her own company, Nordic Hydrogen, with a plan to rethink the technology for producing green hydrogen.

“I felt that my idea could optimize many aspects of the electrolysis process as it traditionally functions in the current market,” says Sarah Groot Shapel. “I was impatient regarding the green transition and thought I would regret not taking the leap. So, I founded Nordic Hydrogen with a team where we literally turned the known Power-to-X technology on its side.”

Nordic Hydrogen uses a modular design of alkaline electrolysis for hydrogen production, where the cylinder in the technology is vertical, unlike other producers in the market. This design allows the company’s green hydrogen production costs to be halved compared to other producers, thanks to the product’s low weight and compact size.

Nordic Hydrogen plans to build a 4MW plant in a forty-foot container, with a prototype expected to be market-ready and scalable in two years. “We remain free from market logic and conservative approaches. However, we need to move the technology quickly, and the access to potential customers and technical advice through Beyond Beta Energy has been invaluable. I look forward to testing our prototype on land so we can later scale up to a plug-and-play technology – also offshore, where we will implement it directly with wind turbines on floating foundations or other locations to produce cheap, green hydrogen for our climate’s benefit. Nordic Hydrogen’s path to this goal has been shortened through focused help from Beyond Beta,” says Sarah Groot Shapel.

A New Opportunity for Founders

According to Glenda Napier, CEO of Energy Cluster Denmark, developing companies like Nordic Hydrogen is crucial for the Danish energy cluster’s continued success in a competitive global market for eco-friendly energy technologies.

“Beyond Beta Energy is designed to speed up the process for companies like Nordic Hydrogen. I recommend anyone with ambitions for green growth to apply for participation in the program. Beyond Beta Energy provides technological founders with help in areas they might not always focus on but are crucial for commercial success,” says Glenda Napier.

Facts about Beyond Beta

Beyond Beta is Denmark’s largest startup program, targeting companies in energy and other Danish business strengths. The program is for entrepreneurs with clear growth potential, and potential participants must apply to be part of a Beyond Beta course.

The next application deadline is May 2, 2024.

Contact Søren Røn, CEO of Next Step Challenge, for more information on how to apply: sr@nextstepchallenge.com

Beyond Beta is funded by the EU Social Fund and the Danish Business Promotion Board and is a collaboration between Danish business houses, cluster organizations, and Accelerace. Energy Cluster Denmark and Next Step Challenge manage Beyond Beta Energy.

Learn more about the program at www.beyondbeta.dk