SIAD and Brembo have announced their investment in Hydrospark, a start-up supported and launched by Petroceramics, which is specialised in the development of advanced technology for hydrogen energy production and storage.
The agreement foresees an equal investment up to €1 million from each company.
For SIAD – an international group active in industrial gases, engineering, LPG, natural gas, and healthcare sectors – and Brembo – a provider of braking systems, investing through its venture capital unit, Brembo Ventures – this investment underlines the technological and industrial value of Hydrospark.
Hydrospark brings a major innovation into the sector: a modular, scalable platform built on proprietary ceramic materials and optimised manufacturing processes, enabling the production of Solid Oxide Cells with higher energy density and reduced manufacturing costs.
Solid Oxide Cells, developed by Hydrospark, produce electricity and heat from hydrogen with high efficiency and zero emissions. They can also convert renewable energy into hydrogen, providing an advanced solution for sustainable energy storage.
This technology is considered one of the most promising for decarbonisation of the industry and mobility, and represents a fundamental step into the construction of an efficient and sustainable hydrogen supply chain. Hydrospark will operate in this field, with a vision strongly oriented towards scientific research, industrial scalability and environmental responsibility.
The start-up has already achieved significant industrial milestones and established collaborations with international partners. By its second year of operations, it aims to break-even and achieve an annual production capacity of one million cells.
Fabrizio Gualandris, CEO of Hydrospark, commented: “Welcoming two highly prestigious private companies into our shareholder base represents a key strategic step. This investment will allow us to validate our technology in an actual production facility, while seizing the opportunity to grow and position ourselves as a strong player in the hydrogen market.”
Bernardo Sestini, Chairman and CEO of The SIAD Group, added: “Our investment in Hydrospark is fully aligned with SIAD’s long-term vision: driving the energy transition through innovative technologies. Hydrogen is a key enabler for a decarbonised future, and Hydrospark brings together industrial expertise and technological vision in a truly pioneering project. At the SIAD Group, we believe that collaboration among Italian centres of excellence can create lasting value for the industry and for future generations.”