Green Hydrogen Partnerships: Driving sustainability through collaboration – By Marko Virkebau

In the pursuit of a sustainable future, the industrial sector stands at a critical juncture, and green hydrogen partnerships can help achieve the ambitious goals. As the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and transition towards cleaner energy sources, the significance of green hydrogen cannot be overstated. This versatile fuel, produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources, holds immense potential to decarbonise various industries, especially in the hard-to-abate sectors. 

The hard-to-abate sectors are responsible for a significant slice of all CO₂ thrown into the atmosphere; Steelmaking by itself is the emitter of 7% of all CO₂ emissions; followed by Chemical and Petrochemicals with 4%, slightly ahead of Shipping and Railway respectively with 2.5% and 1% of carbon emissions. In addition, Industrial Heat generation contributes about 11% to CO₂ emissions, which can also be alleviated by replacing gas with green hydrogen in many use cases. Altogether, these industries emit more than 25% of all human-produced CO₂ and green hydrogen can mitigate that number significantly.  

However, the widespread adoption of green hydrogen faces numerous challenges, including technological limitations, the reduction of the cost of renewable energy sources and regulatory hurdles. To overcome these obstacles and accelerate the transition towards a hydrogen-based economy, our team at Stargate see collaboration and green hydrogen partnerships as essential. By cultivating such partnerships between technology providers, industrial companies, research institutes and policymakers, we can harness collective expertise and resources to drive meaningful change. 

At Stargate Hydrogen, we know collaboration's central role in advancing green hydrogen adoption in the industrial sector. Through strategic green hydrogen partnerships with the leaders of each pilar, we are committed to leveraging our expertise in hydrogen production technology to facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable future. 

The pillars of Green Hydrogen partnerships 

Collaboration with industry players

One of the key pillars of our collaborative approach is our green hydrogen partnerships with industrial integration partners such as Rockfin and Milani who are already leveraging Stargate’s technology. By working closely with these companies, we gain valuable insights into their specific needs and challenges, allowing us to tailor our hydrogen production solutions to meet their specific requirements effectively. These collaborations extend beyond mere transactions; they represent a shared commitment to driving sustainability and innovation within the industrial sector. 

I’ll start with a brief story about our collaboration with Rockfin since they were our first commercial partners. The partnership between Rockfin and Stargate Hydrogen started in 2022 and resulted in the first success story, where the Stargate Hydrogen electrolyser stack was integrated into Rockfin´s balance of plant. Rockfin is a renowned engineering company that embarked on the decarbonisation path just a few years ago, venturing into green hydrogen production and choosing Stargate’s pressurised alkaline stacks as the heart of their hydrogen system.  

With a keen focus on diversification, Rockfin leveraged its assembly capabilities and process engineering expertise to integrate Stargate's cutting-edge technology into its electrolyser systems. The decision to collaborate with us came not only from our mutual compatibility and the robust support we provide but also from the enticing prospect of utilising Stargate’s innovative catalyst, STARDUST, in future large-scale endeavours. This strategic alliance aimed not only to showcase Rockfin's electrolyser system capabilities but also to demonstrate both companies' commitment to hydrogen as a clean energy solution. In addition to the first project, the parties also signed a letter of intent for 100 MW of future electrolyser projects.  

Michał Wróblewski, Rockfin’s CEO said – “The passion for electrolyser stack technology and the determination of the Stargate Team has been crucial to achieve this major milestone. We strongly believe in the long-term potential of hydrogen as a clean energy solution.” 

Through meticulous planning and dedicated efforts, the integrated system made its grand debut at the Poznan Fair in Poland in May 2023. The culmination of this partnership resulted in the productisation of the Mini-Green Box system, now available for industries seeking to embark on their hydrogen journey.  

The second important example of great collaboration at Stargate Hydrogen is our partnership with Milani, a well-known company specialised in the engineering, fabrication and installation of skid-mounted units for the process industry and electrical plants. This strategic green hydrogen partnerships enables Stargate to access Italy, an important region for the future hydrogen economy, side by side with a partner who has a strong understanding of its home market’s intricacies. 

Milani is on a mission to accelerate the transition to clean energy for their clients across Southern Europe, and their strategic decision to choose Stargate Hydrogen as their exclusive supplier of alkaline electrolyser stacks is a significant step toward achieving this goal. We signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) which sets a target to complete 50-100MW of joint projects from 2023 to 2030. In addition, we have commissioned work on the first joint project of 100kW in size.   

Stargate Hydrogen provides invaluable engineering support during the system definition stage, ensuring the seamless integration of the electrolyser stack into Milani's hydrogen production systems while Milani provides its competencies in terms of system integration and certification process. It is truly a win-win situation. 

However, the collaboration extends far beyond the initial demonstration project, with larger installations already in the pipeline. Stargate Hydrogen will continue to supply electrolyser stacks for additional electrolyser projects that are currently under negotiation.  

Collaboration with research institutes

The second pillar of our collaborations extends to validation partners such as Fraunhofer and ZSW, renowned research institutes with expertise in hydrogen technology and testing methodologies. Through these green hydrogen partnerships, we ensure that our hydrogen production systems are validated by third-party institutions. By subjecting our technologies to the highest standards of performance, reliability, and safety, we instil confidence in our customers and stakeholders, fostering greater trust in the capabilities of our products as an irrefutable choice.  

In 2022 Stargate established a bilateral collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials in Dresden (Fraunhofer IFAM). The institute is conducting independent electrochemical characterisation studies of Stargate’s electrode technology. Fraunhofer IFAM also plays a key role in two Clean Hydrogen Partnership projects, both coordinated by Stargate: EXSOTHyC and ENDURE.  

Another example of successful collaboration started in early January 2024 when our Alkaline Electrolyser Stack was tested by the leading German research institute ZSW and demonstrated exceptional results for Hydrogen production. The 150-hour test included thorough current-voltage characterisation, tests at different pressures, and start-up/shut-down cycles.  

That is a great example of how Stargate partners with research institutions to ensure third-party validation and refute the idea that you can't trust electrolysers manufacturers until the last stages of negotiations. With these green hydrogen partnerships, we have proved that you can trust Stargate through the entire process.  

In addition to the green hydrogen partnerships mentioned, we embrace the importance of collaborations on the R&D front. By forging alliances with leading universities and academic institutions, we gain access to cutting-edge research and talent pools, enabling us to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. These collaborations not only drive advancements in hydrogen production technology but also contribute to the broader knowledge base of sustainable energy solutions and motivate young scientists who can see their efforts turning into reality. 

The pool of universities we have collaborations with includes renowned institutions such as Tallinn University of Technology, University of Tartu, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the University of St Andrews. There were several groundbreaking achievements as a result of these collaborations, but I could not think of a better example than the validation of Stargate’s iridium-free alkaline electrolysers by the University of Tartu.  

Dr. Nerut from the University of Tartu commented - “Stargate Hydrogen is an ambitious company challenging the industry incumbents with its novel approach to electrodes and catalyst materials. We are happy to have contributed to this development work and are looking forward to the next steps of the collaboration,”  

We have successfully concluded the first phase of a joint development project in March 2023 and the project has thus far focused on the electrochemical characterisation of novel catalyst materials developed by Stargate for use in next-generation, precious metal-free alkaline electrolysers. Electrochemical measurements were carried out by researchers at the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Tartu, and the results confirm the high activity of Stargate’s nanoceramic materials. 

These improved coating methods can help enhance electrolyser efficiencies and pave the path toward mass production. Developing methods that enable mass production of electrolyser sub-components which are critical to achieving the ambitious scale-up plans set by the industry; plans that could only be achieved through collaboration with such universities. 

Collaboration with European Union-funded projects

The third pillar of collaborations at Stargate Hydrogen are the IPCEI projects, we actively take part in European Union-funded projects focused on advancing hydrogen technology and infrastructure. By leveraging the resources and expertise made available through the projects’ consortium partners, we can accelerate the development and deployment of innovative hydrogen production solutions tailored to the specific needs of European industries.  

Participation in EU-funded projects enables us to collaborate with a diverse range of partners from across Europe, enriching our understanding of regional challenges and opportunities in the transition towards a hydrogen-based economy which has a direct impact on the local communities. Through these collaborations, we contribute our technological expertise and insights while benefiting from the collective wisdom and experience of our partners. 

So far, we are part of 3 ongoing projects funded by the European Union, here is a quick summary of these endeavours. 

H2 Heat - Within the H2 Heat project, green hydrogen will be produced at an onshore facility by using marine-based renewable energy. Stargate’s role is to provide and install its novel 1 MW electrolyser to substitute conventional fuel with green hydrogen. The project is implemented in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Exsothyc - The main objective of the EXSOTHyC is to develop and validate a next-generation alkaline electrolyser stack prototype with a novel cell design containing disruptive sub-components and breakthrough materials to fulfil the future needs of gigawatt-sized storage of renewable energy. 

Endure - The main objective of ENDURE is to improve the current density and stability of electrolysers bringing the performance and durability of alkaline electrolysers to a new level. The number of publicly available durability data on alkaline electrolysers is scarce; therefore, the efforts will contribute to enriching the understanding of the current density and stability of electrolysers for the scientific community. 

Collaboration with policymakers

The fourth pillar of our collaborative efforts extends to engagement with policymakers and regulatory bodies to advocate for supportive policies and incentives that incentivise the adoption of green hydrogen. By actively participating in industry forums, working groups, and policy discussions, we contribute our expertise to shape regulatory frameworks that foster investment in hydrogen infrastructure and facilitate market uptake. We are an active member of Hydrogen Europe and the Estonian Association of Hydrogen Technologies.  

Main Takeaways

In conclusion, driving sustainability through collaboration is essential to accelerating the adoption of any revolutionary technology and green hydrogen is no exception. By forging green hydrogen partnerships between key pillars, in our case, technology providers, industrial companies, research institutes and policymakers we can overcome barriers, multiply collective expertise, and unlock the full potential of green hydrogen to decarbonise industries and mitigate climate change.  

At Stargate Hydrogen, we are committed to playing our part in this collaborative effort, fostering green hydrogen partnerships and working hand in hand with our partners to enable the industry of tomorrow by offering an affordable yet efficient solution to produce green hydrogen with minimum environmental impact. By implementing cutting-edge technology, we empower industries to reduce their carbon footprint significantly and together we create a more sustainable future for generations to come.  

 About the Author 

Marko Virkebau, Stargate Hydrogen’s CEO 

Marko holds an impressive academic history with Master of Science (MS) cum laude at TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology. Currently serving as the CEO of Stargate Hydrogen, where he is driving the forefront of sustainable energy solutions.  

Marko has vast experience as the leader of several prosperous businesses. In his role as the Co-Founder and CFO of Meetfrank, he played a crucial role in reshaping professional networking dynamics.  

Before that, his tenure as CFO at MM Grupp, one of the region's largest family offices, underscores his adeptness in navigating intricate financial landscapes.  Marko has also served as the first institutional investor and former Board Member at Skeleton Technologies, contributing significantly to its technological advancements.  

Finally, Marko is a member of the Estonian Founders Society where he actively shapes the entrepreneurial landscape of the most digital country in the world, Estonia, with a commitment to excellence and innovation.