State of the Dis-Union? with the EAH Hosts

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/

Recorded right before Climate Week in London, Everything About Hydrogen hosts Patrick Molloy, Alicia Eastman and Chris Jackson discuss the State of the Union of Hydrogen: the good, the bad, and the ugly. A Fan favorite, the SOTU allows us to dig a little broader and deeper into hydrogen and its role in the energy system. --Links:www.eahpod.com

The EAH team caught up with George Richardson of Norman Broadbent, the first UK headquartered search firm. Given his deep experience in hydrogen and broader purview including renewables, energy, utilities, and power, he was able to provide perspective on hiring patterns in these markets. About Norman Broadbent:Established in 1979, Norman Broadbent is a premiere executive search firm with over 3000 clients, from start-ups to FTSE 100 and international corporations.The team has placed directors, executives and leaders in 79 countries around the world. They have a proven track record supporting SMEs, major brands, household names and established global businesses across a range of sectors.Norman Broadbent has a commitment to ED&I, CSR and ESG, both internally and across every engagement with their clients and candidates. They are partners of Chapter Zero, building a community of non-executive directors and equipping them to lead crucial UK boardroom discussions on the impacts of climate change and helping ensure their companies are fit for the future. They are partners of Lean In Equity & Sustainability, an independent gender diversity and inclusion initiative, and a member-centric, diverse, international circle of women and allies supporting and empowering women to achieve their ambitions. Their mission is to empower women in male-dominated sectors to build a sustainable future. They are also supporters of Empowering People of Colour (EPoC), a peer-to-peer network that links high-potential executives of colour, providing support and opportunities for Board-level appointments and changing the makeup of leadership at the top of all UK institutions.About George Richardson:George is a Director within the international Energy, Utilities and Natural Resources practice at Norman Broadbent. He has a robust six-year background in the energy sector focusing intensively on the energy transition landscape, which includes significant expertise in hydrogen, battery energy storage systems (BESS), ammonia, and ET consulting.George excels in assisting technology-based business, developers, asset owners, and service providers with their executive recruitment needs at C-suite, SVP, and Director levels. He is passionate about renewable energy, previously leading several podcasts and integrating with governing bodies to ensure continued change across the sector.Prior to joining Norman Broadbent, George honed his skills at BOSS, a boutique energy firm, where he supported clients across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. His experience spans various sub-sectors, including major utilities and developers, hydrogen, clean fuels, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), waste to energy, energy storage, and industrial engineering.--Links:Norman Broadbent - https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

This week on Everything About Hydrogen we have Kyle Arnold, the Managing Director of HyHAUL Mobility Ltd (HML). The company is leading the largest roll out of hydrogen Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) refueling infrastructure in the United Kingdom, operating along the M4 with 30 trucks by Q2 2026, supported by funding from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) Zero Emission Road Freight Transport (ZERFT). ZERFT has been subsequently rebranded as Zero Emissions HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrations (ZEHID). HML plans to eventually deploy over 300 fuel cell trucks totaling 44 tonnes of gross weight, by 2030. Kyle previously developed, built and operated hydrogen refuelling infrastructure across the UK and Europe, notably the Tyseley refuelling site in Birmingham, the largest in Europe.About HML:HyHAUL is an ambitious initiative to establish the UK’s first dedicated hydrogen mobility corridor, setting a new benchmark in sustainable transport by proving the feasibility and scalability of hydrogen in heavy-duty freight operations.By leveraging hydrogen’s potential to power zero-emission vehicles, HyHAUL directly addresses the decarbonisation of the most challenging and emission-intensive duty cycles in road transport. This pioneering effort supports the UK’s broader commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.About Kyle Arnold:HML Managing Director with over 20 years’ experience in project management, innovative engineering, and delivering First-Of-A-kind (FOAK) hydrogen projects across the UK, EU, and beyond. Throughout his career, he’s had the privilege of leading talented teams to ensure these groundbreaking projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and effectively. He’s worked closely with local and national governments and collaborated with some of the world’s most recognizable companies to drive innovation and make net-zero ambitions a reality. At the heart of everything he does, is a commitment to safety, sustainability, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the green hydrogen space.--Links:HML - https://hyhaul.co.uk/DfT and Innovate UK - https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/news/infrastructure/dft-and-innovate-uk-programme-to-create-54-new-zero-emission-hgv-infrastructure-hubs-across-the-uk.html

The EAH team discusses shipping green house gas emissions elimination with Dr. Tristan Smith, who also helps translate some relatively positive developments at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 83 in early April 2025. About Dr. Tristan Smith:Dr. Tristan Smith is a Professor in Energy and Transport at UCL Energy Institute and since 2010, has grown a substantial group focused on modeling and analysis of shipping’s efficiency emissions and decarbonisation pathways. He is an author of the 3rd and 4th IMO GHG (International Maritime Organization Green House Gas) Studies. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineers, Scientists, and Technologists, through which he attends and participates in IMO GHG debates.About UCL Energy Institute:The University College London (UCL) Energy Institute delivers world-leading learning, research and policy support on the challenges of climate change and energy security.From data analytics to environmental economics, they equip graduates with the tools needed to succeed in a career in energy industry, academia or policy.UCL research combines different approaches to develop tools, models and methods that address global energy challenges. Students and staff have a genuine passion for energy research, cutting carbon emissions and reducing energy demand. --Links:UCL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/environment-energy-resources/energy/about/ucl-research-guiding-global-energy-transitionUCL Newsletter https://ucl.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9c46e9f5e89e162ce6e4df39c&id=4fa6573287