Swedish startup Graphmatech has secured a €2.5 million EU grant to develop a pilot facility in Uppsala for its graphene-based hydrogen storage technology, aiming to reduce hydrogen leakage by 83%.

The project, supported by the Swedish Energy Agency, will scale production from five to 200 tons annually and enable industrial testing, with plans to deploy the technology in 1,500 commercial vehicles by 2027 compared to conventional systems.

“We’re moving beyond R&D to industrial-scale demonstration and accelerating the path to safer, more efficient hydrogen infrastructure that can be replicated across Europe and beyond,” says Olivia Nestius, Graphmatech CEO.

Designed for Type 4 cylinders and pipelines, the technology of Graphmatech leverages graphene’s near-impermeability to gases, addressing the critical issue of hydrogen leakage, which can undermine both the economics and environmental benefits of hydrogen.

Despite graphene’s potential, high production costs and quality variability have historically limited its use. The Graphmatech system, however, is a ‘drop-in’ solution, seamlessly integrating into existing infrastructure for the production of other polymers for manufacturing storage vessels, such as polyamide and polyethylene, without requiring extensive modifications.

Recent studies underscore the urgency of minimising hydrogen leaks. A 2024 Environmental Defense Fund report highlighted that current models underestimate hydrogen’s short-term warming impact, while Cicero’s analysis pegged hydrogen’s 100-year global warming potential at nearly 12 times that of CO2 per kilogram emitted. Reducing leakage is vital for hydrogen’s role in a sustainable energy future.

Graphmatech is collaborating with Levidian, a UK-based firm specialising in low-emission Loop technology that co-produces hydrogen and graphene. This partnership aims to establish a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain, bridging laboratory innovation with practical application. Levidian’s patented Loop technology captures carbon from methane before combustion, enabling heavy emitters and hard-to-abate industries to decarbonise gas flows while producing clean hydrogen and high-quality graphene. The flagship technology of Graphmatech, Aros Graphene, enables efficient graphene integration and dispersion into other traditional materials like metals and polymers including silver, copper or thermoplastics. This enhances these materials with graphene’s notable properties such as strength, conductivity and barrier.

By 2027, Graphmatech’s technology is set to power approximately 1,500 commercial vehicles, marking a significant step toward decarbonizing transportation. The project aligns with the EU’s hydrogen strategy, offering tangible solutions to advance the fight against climate change while honouring the legacy of material innovation.

www.graphmatech.com