Energy Transition
SUPERCRITICAL
Pioneering hydrogen technology for a life beyond fossil fuels
Founded:
2022
Located
London, United Kingdom
We invested
Series A
EARTH-FIRST VISION
Supercritical is pioneering the world's first high-pressure, ultra-efficient electrolyser, unlocking the lowest-cost pressurised green hydrogen for industrial-scale use. With the global hydrogen market valued at $170 billion in 2023 and projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%, demand could exceed 500 million metric tons annually by 2050. Supercritical is building the technology to power the next era of green hydrogen.
THE PROBLEM
Hydrogen has powered industry for over a century, fueling everything from synthetic fertilizers, shipping and refining, but its production still leaves a heavy carbon footprint. Today, hydrogen is responsible for 1 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, or 2% of global emissions, largely because it’s still produced using coal and gas.
More than 90% of the world’s hydrogen demand needs pressure, yet both grey and green hydrogen systems rely on costly, inefficient, and unreliable hydrogen compressors to achieve it. From ammonia and methanol production to refineries, industries are forced to burn massive amounts of energy just to make hydrogen usable.
SOLUTIONS
Supercritical has developed a new class of electrolyser that produces high-purity, high-pressure green hydrogen with zero emissions, eliminating the need for compressor systems entirely. It’s engineered to meet the demands of today’s largest markets like e-chemicals, heavy transport, and industrial heat.
High pressure: Their system delivers 220 bar high-purity hydrogen without energy-intensive compressors, cutting both costs and carbon emissions.
Ultra-efficient: By operating at 99% Higher Heating Value (HHV) efficiency in the stack, Supercritical drives a step-change reduction in the levelised cost of hydrogen, making green hydrogen far more economically viable.
Planet first: Free from scarce or harmful materials like iridium, PFAS (forever chemicals), and rare earths, Supercritical’s tech is not just zero-emission, it’s built for sustainable deployment at scale.
THEIR DNAs
Behind Supercritical’s breakthrough technology is a founding team with the vision, grit, and technical depth to reshape the hydrogen economy:
Matt Bird (CEO) brings over 26 years of leadership experience, including senior management and board-level roles across high-growth ventures. He holds a degree in communication engineering from Plymouth University.
Dr. Mike Russ (CTO) is an expert in electrochemical systems and supercritical reactors, with hands-on experience developing advanced energy technologies, and holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Bristol University.
Luke Tan (CPO) is a seasoned process engineer with a background in chemical engineering from Imperial College London. He spent seven years at Johnson Matthey, where he led process design for large-scale technology licensing.