PowerUp Energy Technologies

Estonia-based PowerUp Energy Technologies (PowerUP) offers portable fuel cell-based power generators. The company’s generators are based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells that use hydrogen as a fuel. The company markets its fuel cell generators as an alternative to diesel generators and batteries.

The company develops three models of generators: 1) UP200—a 200 watt (W) generator for powering small applications such as lights, GPS, and radios, 2) UP400—a 400W generator designed for use in marine environments, and 3) UP1K—a 1,000W generator for professional and recreational use. In November 2021, the company unveiled a new product—ChargeUP, an AI smart grid system prototype.

Key customers and partnerships

In May 2021, PowerUP together with Alexela, an Estonian energy company, launched a pilot smart hydrogen cabinet in the Kakumae harbor (Estonia) targeting hydrogen-powered sailboats, yachts, and mobile homes. The smart cabinet is fully automated and filled with lightweight hydrogen cylinders provided by PowerUP.

PowerUP partnered with telecommunications companies Telia (October 2022) and Tele2 (October 2023) to provide its hydrogen fuel cell generator solution as an alternative power source for their cell towers during power outages. The company also signed a contract with the European Space Agency in June 2023 to develop a 1 kW liquid-cooled closed-cathode hydrogen fuel cell stack for use on lunar cargo ships and rovers as a power source in addition to solar panels and batteries.

In October 2022, PowerUP partnered with Meraki Green Development, a Greece-based provider of smart electric generators for the Greece and Cypriot markets, to supply its <30 kW product line. In June 2022, the company entered the Italian market through a distribution agreement with AS Labruna, a provider of marine, power, and loading engines.

Funding and financials

In March 2021, PowerUp received a USD 150,000 grant from Estonia’s Environmental Investment Center to develop two 12W generator prototypes for testing and validation by Mushi Bio Power in Namibia and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) in Pakistan.