Project Starling with Alasdair Lumsden, Director & Co-Founder of Carbon Neutral Fuels

The team sat down with Alasdair Lumsden, one half of the Carbon Neutral Fuels (CNF) founding team, and discussed CNF’s plan to produce vast amounts of eSAF in the UK. About Alasdair Lumsden:Alasdair is Co-founder and Director of Carbon Neutral Fuels (CNF), a UK-based Sustainable Aviation Fuel developer. About Carbon Neutral Fuels (CNF):CNF was co-founded by Alasdair Lumsden and Sophie Zienkiewicz on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. Based in the UK, CNF is endeavoring to replace liquid fossil fuels with a more sustainable alternative and developing their modular and scalable Power-to-Liquid (PtL) flagship facility called Starling, a commercial-scale eSAF facility under development in Workington, Cumbria.This facility will convert low-carbon electricity, captured carbon dioxide and water into 25,000 tonnes/year of synthetic kerosene with a 97% lifecycle GHG emissions reduction versus fossil kerosene. This is enough to deliver over 40% of the UK's mandated 2030 eSAF supply. To date, Starling has received £7.4m from the UK government.--Links:CNF site - www.carbonneutralfuels.com CNF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbonneutralfuels

As the hydrogen economy is hitting its "industrial scale" phase, the focus is shifting from electrolyser counts and toward the complex reality of the midstream. How do we physically—and cost-effectively—connect, convert and move green molecules across the globe?In this episode, EAH sits down with Karlis Vasarais from Uniper’s Innovation team to discuss the energy major’s strategic evolution toward "Greener Gases". We explore:* The Policy Blueprint - What can 20 years of biogas policy history can teach us about the future of e-fuels and hydrogen. * Global Scale - Uniper’s landmark 2026 agreement to offtake 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia from India and their broader European production aspirations.* The Midstream Missing Link - Why global supply chains—spanning transport, storage, and conversion—are the key to turning "stranded" green molecules into bankable commodities.* Enabling Mandates - The tool kit of regulatory levers and "mandate ingredients" required to spur innovation, reduce the price gap, and unlock private sector investmentAbout Karlis Vasarais:Karlis Vasarais works at Uniper as an Energy Transition Innovation Manager, where he’s involved in activities related to carbon capture, utilisation and carbon-tech innovation. His role includes engagement with broader energy and climate innovation networks, particularly in carbon-tech and sustainability initiatives, aligning with Uniper’s transition focus. He also engages with stakeholders around carbon capture, utilisation, and related technologies, including strategic discussions about scaling these solutions in Europe. Previously, Karlis led Valent alongside Tim Haig, both experienced entrepreneurs who have built significant expertise in fuels science, industrial process optimization, early-stage financing and technology scale-up. The team raised over $250 million for six companies, leading to the commercialization of numerous R&D-stage innovations in renewable energy and clean technologies in Canada, including BIOX (World Energy), Mara Renewables, and GreenMantra Technologies. About Uniper:Uniper is a European energy company focused on secure energy supply and the energy transition. Headquartered in Germany, Uniper operates power generation assets, energy trading, and gas infrastructure across several countries, while increasingly investing in low-carbon solutions such as hydrogen, carbon capture, and flexible power to support decarbonization and system reliability.--Links:Uniper - https://www.uniper.energy/Uniper Energy Transition - https://www.uniper.energy/sustainability

Dr. Kanga shares what it's like emerging as a cornerstone, next-generation technology in the current investment climate, how the hydrogen industry may evolve (especially when breakthrough value-chain technologies dovetail into the ecosystem and deliver step-function cost savings), and how new emerging markets like India seek to leapfrog the rest of the world.About Dr. Jehan Kanga:As well as Founder and CEO of Rux Energy, Jehan is a multi-award winning scientist. Previously, Jehan was an emerging clean tech leader at KPMG Australia, completed a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Sydney, and has been listed as 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians in 2019 by Asialink, and was awarded India Australia Business Council Young Professional of the Year 2021. Jehan is a recognised thought leader, presenting at major hydrogen conferences and events in Australia, USA, UK, Singapore, Europe and UAE.Rux Energy:An Australian advanced materials startup delivering breakthrough efficiency gains for dispatchable hydrogen storage, Rux enables step change efficiencies for heavy mobility, maritime, rail, road, energy distribution networks, and heavy industry.Rux is commercialising their breakthrough nanoporous MOF materials, which stands for Metal Organic Frameworks, a new field of advanced material for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2025. Rux is focused on industrial gas storage, in particular safer, more energy efficient, high volumetric density and lower cost hydrogen storage - a key part of the sector's value chain.Rux has won a number of major international awards for their novel approach, including the prestigious CMA CGM Startup Award 2025 fo Safe & Compliant Transportation of Hazardous Goods, and the Australian Technologies Competition 2025 which recognised their innovative green & circular manufacturing and Safe & Sustainable by Design approach. Rux is about to launch its first commercial systems for construction, mining, maritime and bulk last-mile distribution, supported by large-cap industrials including Joint Development Projects with Bureau Veritas and R&D collaborations with Serco UK, the largest operator of British-flagged vessels.—Links:Rux Energy - www.ruxenergy.com CMA-CGM Startup Awards 2025 - https://ruxenergy.com/rux-energy-wins-at-the-cma-cgm-startup-awards-2025-in-marseille-france/

The EAH team was happy to welcome Jürgen Guldner back on the show to give us an update on BMW’s hydrogen mobility program, which is…wait for it - ahead of schedule! In our first conversation, the focus was on the pilot fleet and after successful global testing, BMW has fast forwarded the road map. Instead of 2030, BMW will bring the iX5 Hydrogen into series production in 2028. Jürgen explains why BMW must meet the demands of different customers and therefore offer battery electric as well as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. He also explains the roadblocks that must be overcome for both product lines including infrastructure, grid technology and fuel production partnerships. About Jürgen Guldner:Jürgen is currently the General Program Manager of Hydrogen Technology for the BMW Group. He has spent 15 years working in the Munich area on hydrogen programs for BMW Group, 4 years in the US primarily launching the Hybrid X6, and began his career at BMW almost thirty years ago in different divisions. Jürgen holds an undergraduate degree from Technical University of Munich, a Masters in Science from Clemson University as part of the Fulbright Scholars program, as well as advanced degrees in electronics and robotics from University of Tokyo and Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt (DLR) / Technische Universität Munchen. His Post Doc is from the University of California, Berkeley. About the BMW Group:With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is one of the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services. The BMW Group comprises over 30 production sites worldwide and a global sales network in more than 140 countries.In 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.BMW Group credits its success to long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a vital element of corporate strategy, from the supply chain through production to the end of use phase of all products. --Links:BMW Group - https://www.bmwgroup.com/en.html--Reach Episode Hosts and Guests on LinkedIn:@Jurgen Guldner@Alicia Eastman@Patrick Molloy--Contact Episode Hosts via email:[email protected]@h2podcast.com

This week the unholy trinity convened for the seasonal State of the Union discussion. Co-Hosts Patrick Molloy, Chris Jackson, and Alicia Eastman analyze relevant global trends, macro impacts, and sector specific influences and consequences.The team digs beneath the vibes, to take stock of where the industry stands today and contemplate future evolution. --Recommendations from the show:‘1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How it Shattered a Nation’ by journalist and author Andrew SorkinThe Reith Lectures ‘How to Start a Moral Revolution’ - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-reith-lectures/id318705261?i=1000739258338

This week, the EAH team sat down with Aran Bates, Founder and CEO of Hydrologiq, to dive into the strategic deployment of hydrogen in the off-grid sector.We explore how Hydrologiq is moving beyond just the hardware, discussing the critical role of software and systems thinking in scaling up clean fuel adoption. Aran provides fascinating insights into distributed decarbonisation and the future of resilient microgrids.The conversation focuses on the synergy between Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and hydrogen, detailing the "hub-and-spoke" model that is revolutionizing how we power remote sites, temporary setups, and events—including a fun look at the hydrogen deployment at Boomtown Fair. Aran explains how their platform, Logiq, is the essential tool for managing multi-technology fleets and simplifying the hydrogen supply chain.It was a truly valuable chat, underscoring that the transition to hydrogen is as much about Logiq's operational efficiency as it is about the fuel itself.About Hydrologiq:Hydrologia makes hydrogen the turnkey, scalable and immediate diesel replacement for off-road machinery - decarbonising a US$327 billion global diesel machinery market that produces 1.3 gigatons of CO2e every year.They do this through Logiq - the platform that handles everything from supply chain integration to on-the-ground operations, making hydrogen an easy to adopt and scale decarbonisation choice.Born out of a passion to reduce the greenhouse gas impact society is having on the planet, they are enabling the hydrogen value chain to change how we store, move and use energy off-grid.About Aran Bates:Aran’s experience sits at the intersection of technical development, business, and strategy gained over eight years of technology and innovation consulting, as well as start-up experience. Prior to Hydrologiq he spent two and a half years evaluating and studying the applicability of hydrogen on energy systems, now through the work being done at Hydrologiq, they are testing and proving that hydrogen is an answer.Previously, Aran founded his own digital start-up, bootstrapping it into an operating business within a year; launched new ventures inside of existing multinational businesses (e.g. designed and lead all aspects of the physical product and manufacturing for Holland and Barret’s Healthbox offering, taking it from pure paper idea to live product in market MVP in three months); and advised many of the world’s largest corporates on innovation, including acting as the direct advisor and coach to the global Head of Innovation at Rolls Royce Aerospace.--🔗 Company Links:Hydrologiq - https://www.hydrologiq.com/--🔗 Links Mentioned in the episode:Boomtown Fair Hydrogen Project: See how hydrogen made its debut at the iconic festival, showcasing real-world off-grid application - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/boomtownfair_boomtown-banggoesnormal-visitboomtown-activity-7369673059982647297-7UIa?utm_source=social_share_video_v2&utm_medium=android_app&rcm=ACoAAAgR9EQBRpLRHd9VpL2HnwaYihOdPVZ7_2s&utm_campaign=copy_link‘Hydrogen, BESS, and Microgrids’ Aran's in-depth article on the "hub-and-spoke" model for off-grid power - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/revolutionizing-off-grid-power-hydrogen-hub-and-spoke-aran-bates-ykvve?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&utm_campaign=share_viaLogiq, discover the platform designed for modern clean fuel and asset management - https://www.hydrologiq.com/

The EAH team had a chance to compare notes with an industry icon, former CEO and current board member of ACWA Power, a global leader in renewables including solar, wind, hydrogen, and desalination. He is the Vice Chairman of Zhero, focused on green hydrogen and ammonia in the US and Africa as well as X-Links, seeking to provide the United Kingdom with green electrons via undersea cables from North Africa. He is also the Chair of Datavolt, building sustainable data centers and Desolenator, which is focused on clean water. As one of the most successful green developers worldwide, we were curious to hear what he thought about hydrogen, his experience with ACWA/Neom in the past, his current involvement with Zhero and other companies utilizing clean hydrogen, as well as his vision for the future. About Paddy Padmanathan:Paddy is Co-Founder & Vice Chair of Zhero with 40+ years of industry experience in power and ancillary business. He is the former CEO and President of ACWA Power (2007-2023), transforming it from a 5-person private company to a publicly listed firm on the Saudi stock exchange with a market cap of approximately US$25 billion. ACWA Power is a leading global developer, owner, and operator of power generation and desalinated water plants, managing assets worth over US$75 billion in thirteen countries.

A Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Manchester, Paddy began his career in consulting engineering before moving on to develop privately financed power, water, and wastewater projects globally. He serves on the boards of several companies in the water and energy sectors. Before ACWA Power, he was VP and Corporate Officer at Black and Veatch for over a decade.About Zhero:Zhero is a developer of green and clean energy projects, including renewable energy, green molecules and energy storage solutions led by a world-class team in projects ideation and execution. The company was founded in 2022 by Marco Alverà, Alessandra Pasini, Paddy Padmanathan, and Enrico Vitali.In Paddy’s own words: “At Zhero, we turn the vision of a clean energy future into reality while maximizing inclusive, global prosperity. By deploying large-scale solar, wind, and battery storage alongside HVDC interconnectors and green molecule production, we harness top-tier natural resources to deliver reliable, sustainable, and low cost power to demand centers worldwide.”--Links:Zhero - https://www.zhero.net/X-Links - https://xlinks.co/Datavolt - https://data-volt.com/Desolenator - http://www.desolenator.com/ACWA - http://www.acwapower.com/en/

Patrick Molloy and Alicia Eastman sit down with Chinmoy, the Founder and CEO of CHIPX™ Global. He describes how CHIPX™ is disrupting semiconductor design, manufacturing and usage to reduce energy requirements, eliminate emissions, and lower costs. CHIPX™ semiconductors also operate at room temperature, last longer, require less maintenance, and are fully recyclable. As an Irish company, CHIPX™ can sell to any country or company, ensuring equal access to compute, eventually including AI. About CHIPX™ Global Holdings Limited:CHIPX is revolutionizing semiconductor chip production, by building decentralized, resilient semiconductor infrastructure designed for tomorrow’s intelligence. From high-conductivity substrates to mission-grade systems, CHIPX™ engineers sovereignty into silicon — and beyond.CHIPX™ is reinventing how and where semiconductors are made. Their vertically integrated value chain combines advanced materials, high-voltage ICs, and system-level design to deliver resilient, performance-driven technologies. CHIPX Connect™ accelerates semiconductor innovation across power, photonics, and sensing. From ceramic substrates to GaN/SiC ICs, CHIPX™ enables mission-grade systems for AI, Aerospace and Mobility – bridging the gap between R&D and real-world deployment. CHIPX™ combines the best of industry personnel, knowledge, and locations across Ireland, the UK, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, North America and Europe, to manufacture optimized solutions to buyers worldwide. About Chinmoy Baruah:Chinmoy Baruah is the Founder and CEO of CHIPX™ Global, a next-gen semiconductor venture launched in the UK in 2022 with a radical vision: to decentralize chip manufacturing and deliver technological sovereignty to the world´s most underserved markets. But CHIPX™ is more than a hardware company—it’s a blueprint for reengineering the global systems that semiconductors depend on. Chinmoy and his team are building a distributed, disruption-proof supply chain that spans Asia, MENA, Europe and US, forging powerful alliances that fuse local resilience with global reach. His leadership combines deep technical fluency, geopolitical insight, and a talent for turning complex systems into scalable solutions.

Before launching CHIPX™, Chinmoy was already pushing boundaries at the intersection of energy, deep tech, and advanced materials. As co-founder of Cavendyne in Germany, a clean hydrogen startup backed by aerospace heavyweights like Boeing and GE, he led work on some of the most advanced decarbonization technologies in development. His expertise spans quantum computation, gas purification, and nanomaterials, with research ties to world-class institutions including IIT, Henry Royce Institute (Manchester), CSIR-NEIST, and the University of Manchester. Whether in the lab or on the factory floor, Chinmoy’s north star remains the same: converting cutting-edge science into real-world infrastructure with lasting global impact.

His contributions have earned recognition from the HSBC Global Fintech Challenge and The Harvard Project for Asian & International Relations, positioning him not just as an innovator but as a visionary builder of industrial systems for a volatile and fast-moving world.

Chinmoy holds a BS from Kaziranga University and a postgraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Manchester, where he collaborated with Professor Mike Anderson at the Centre for Nanoporous Materials, whose team received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2021 Horizon Prize for their groundbreaking work on CrystalGrower. --Links:CHIPX™ — https://www.chipxglobal.com/

We are delighted to start off Season 9 with Dr. Mike Rendall, the CTO of AFC Energy, an industry veteran with an interesting pivot. The EAH team enjoyed discussing all things hydrogen, ammonia cracking and distributed decarbonisation with a real trove of knowledge and learnings. About AFC Energy:AFC Energy plc is a UK hydrogen technology company commercialising both ruggedised fuel cell power generators for the construction market and proprietary ammonia crackers for decentralised and scalable hydrogen production, targeting industrial, transportation, and temporary power markets. The heart of AFC Energy’s value proposition to customers, is its ability to supply hydrogen and / or clean power at customer facilities in modular, scalable quantities—at commercially viable price points and without reliance on government subsidies.Having built and operated a 400kg/day ammonia cracker to pure hydrogen demonstration plant - the world’s largest - since December 2023, AFC Energy launched the “HY5” in June 2025, a containerized version of its ammonia cracker capable of producing 500kg of 99.99% pure hydrogen per day on a "Fuel as a service" basis. In a joint development partnership with a major global industrial player, it is also developing larger-scale ammonia crackers based on its core technology for applications that include port-side pipeline-filling and hard-to-abate industrial sectors.Recent strategic partnerships include 50/50 joint ventures with Speedy Hire, the UK’s largest equipment rental company for fuel cell generators, and with Industrial Chemicals Ltd for the scaled production and distribution of low-cost hydrogen across the UK, utilizing ammonia sourced by ICL and AFC Energy’s ammonia cracking technology.In July 2025, AFC Energy completed an oversubscribed £27.5 million equity raise from institutional and retail investors on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.About Dr. Mike Rendall:Mike Rendall is the CTO at AFC Energy, where he is responsible for product development, technology strategy, and commercial rollout of AFC Energy’s ammonia cracker and fuel cell systems. He leads development of both the Hy-5 containerised cracker and larger industrial-scale solutions in partnership with major international industry partners. Mike previously held key strategic technical roles at Dyson, Diverse Energy, and multiple leading battery and fuel cell firms. --Links:AFC Energy — https://www.afcenergy.com/

The EAH team had the pleasure of hosting Audrey Ma of REFIRE, based in Shanghai. Tackling this currently controversial sector and geography seemed like a fitting end to Season 8, a difficult season for many of our guests in hydrogen and private markets generally. We get a chance to hear about the incredible progress in China in the hydrogen fuel cell and power mobility space, debunk some of the mythology around free flowing subsidies, and of course it wouldn’t be this trio without a few ambling detours and off piste discussions. About Audrey Ma:Based in Shanghai, Audrey is Executive Director & Vice President of International Markets as well as a Board Director of REFIRE. She is dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions that align with REFIRE's vision for widespread hydrogen technology adoption.In her role as Executive Director and Vice President of International Markets, she has been been instrumental in driving REFIRE's global growth by effectively navigating complex market dynamics and establishing strategic partnerships and local operations. She is able to leverage diverse perspectives, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within the industry.A trained architect, Audrey held previous roles at HEAD Architecture, 10 Design, and B+H Architects, after which she did business development and Marketing at famed architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP.Audrey holds a Bachelors in Architecture from Carleton University and a Masters in Urban Design from the University of Hong Kong. Audrey is a frequent speaker and participant at United Nations and Hydrogen Council events.About REFIRE:REFIRE is the world's leading deployer of commercial hydrogen fuel cell mobility and power. The company specialises in the design, testing, prototyping, application engineering, and production of fuel cell systems for buses, trucks, utility vehicles, power machines, and stationary power units. Since its founding in 2015, the REFIRE group of companies has grown to over 650 employees. Over 3,100 buses, trucks, and utility vehicles powered by REFIRE are in daily use in 20+ cities across 6 countries around the globe. Their combined mileage has surpassed 100 million kilometres to date.--Links:REFIRE - https://en.refire.com/