Hydrogen celling point
IF a better new world of net zero carbon emissions does happen, hydrogen fuel cell pioneer Bramble Energy is on track to be among the first due for a credit.
Transport, lighting and smaller appliances are all being reinvented with the British engineer’s clean technology, a breakthrough that crucially enables fast, affordable, mass volume production. Now scaling up commercially to support a global sales push, the designer and manufacturer’s portable SD solution is a low power, aircooled range for off-grid use in CCTVs, alarms, environmental monitoring and lighting.
The energy supplied lasts weeks longer com- pared to batteries, slashing servicing time, and refuelling takes seconds.
The SDs are being rolled out over summer, followed by a 1kW replacement for diesel generators.
Decarbonising transport offers the biggest wins however, and one of Bramble’s moves into this market involves its higher power range extenders that improve battery charging and running times for electric vehicles.
After joining forces with Mahle Powertrain, their first demonstrator for Renault’s Kangoo ZE model is due to hit the road this year. Further collaborations, involving higher-powered, liquid-cooled cell systems with multinational customers, are also in the works.
“We have been able to achieve something no other hydrogen fuel company has done.
“We can make a cell of any shape or size creating a cost-effective, high-quality product with a small, effective team,” says chief executive and co-founder Dr Tom Mason, who with 23 colleagues is based at Bramble’s design and test HQ in Crawley, West Sussex.
With a forecast £2.5 million plus turnover in 2023 for the SD range, the company’s visionary core concepts were developed by Imperial College and University College London, resulting in a spin-out in 2016.
Today as the climate crisis rages on, hydrogen fuel cells are attracting more interest than ever. However conventional ones are extremely expensive and inflexible.
Bramble is changing that with a system based on a fundamental of everyday modern life – the printed circuit board (PCB). Its smart patented PCBFC works in stacks with the hydrogen and can be made by existing circuit board factories.
There has been no shortage of investment with Bramble bringing in £5.6 million over two funding rounds, a mix of venture and growth capital that includes Parkwalk Advisors.
“The beauty of this business is it will not need billions to scale,” says Parkwalk investment director Neil Cameron.
Mason is planning a further raise this year. “We are on a journey to save the world,” he says. “We want Bramble to be the go-to name in affordable fuel cell solutions.”
‘We are on a journey to save the world’