Supercritical: Turning Green Hydrogen Into The New Normal

Hydrogen is the backbone of industries like fertilizers, shipping, and refining. Today, hydrogen production pumps out a billion tonnes of CO2 yearly—2% of global emissions—mostly because the process involves coal and gas. Supercritical’s co-founders Mike Russ, Luke Tan and Matt Bird took this problem to heart and decided to fix it with an ultra-efficient electrolyser that’s rewriting the rules of the hydrogen industry. The problem they’re solving isn’t small. Hydrogen’s been a hero for over a century, powering everything from synthetic fertilizers to plastics, but its dirty past has left a carbon footprint that’s hard to ignore.

"The chemical engineers of the last 100 years made our way of life possible."

Luke says, reflecting on how hydrogen shaped the modern world being the enabling molecule for anything from petrol and diesel to pharmaceuticals and plastics. But now, it’s time for a reboot. Industries of these scales can’t just flick a switch, disruption needs a better option, and Supercritical’s delivering it. Their electrolyser spits out high-pressure hydrogen at 220 bar without the energy-guzzling compressors that traditional setups lean on, slashing costs and emissions. For customers, this isn’t just greentech, it’s a ticket to a more profitable future.

Why Are They Super-Critical?

It’s their tech, and their spot-on timing. Most electrolysers generate hydrogen at low pressures (1-30 bar), then rely on compressors to squeeze it into something usable. Think of it like packing a pile of loose candy, like fluffy cotton candy, which takes up tons of space. To fit it into a small jar, you’d need to squish it down with your hands or a tool, pressing it tight so it’s compact and ready to ship. That squishing takes effort, and in the real world of hydrogen, it’s done with a power-hungry machine called a compressor, which uses energy to squeeze loose hydrogen gas into a smaller, high-pressure form for storage or transport. Supercritical skips this step, starting with water under pressure and splitting it into hydrogen that’s ready to roll at 99% efficiency.

“Until Supercritical, no one had a method of splitting water at the conditions we operate at.”

Luke explains. That’s a big deal because conventional machines couldn’t handle it. Their membraneless design, using everyday metals instead of rare-earth like iridium, keeps costs down and scalability up.

The market’s ripe for this. With 90 million tonnes of hydrogen demanded yearly - and growing quickly - countries and companies are racing to net zero. “Appetite for change has never been greater,” Luke notes, and Supercritical’s hitting that sweet spot.

Their first big win was proving continuous hydrogen production was possible—“those bubbles justified the risk, the cost, the sacrifice the team has taken” , Matt recalls. Then came high-purity hydrogen without a membrane, meaning no rare-earth supply chain risks, and a safety must-have that opened the door to real-world use. For customers in chemicals or fuels, this means a reliable, green hydrogen supply that doesn’t break the bank. For investors, it’s a chance to ride a wave as green hydrogen shifts from niche to norm.

The Team That Makes It Happen

Luke Tan, Matt Bird, and Mike Russ (from left to right)

Behind the technology is a team that’s as impressive as their invention. Luke Tan, Matt Bird, and Mike Russ bring a mix of grit, vision, and know-how that’s worth a bet on. Luke’s a chemical engineer who found his spark in China, watching renewables take off but spotting a glaring flaw: “Fuel cell vehicles were running on hydrogen from coal,” he says. That moment flipped a switch. He’d spent nearly a decade at Johnson Matthey, a big player in catalysis and hydrogen tech, sharpening his skills in product development and customer needs. “I used to daydream about creating something, but I didn’t know how," Luke admits. Then, a chat with his co-founders sparked it all, turning that restless dreamer into a founder hell-bent on slashing green hydrogen costs.

Matt Bird’s the strategic brain with a personal stake in the game. “Becoming a father reshaped my perspective,” he shares. “I want to leave a tangible legacy for my daughters—a world where clean energy is a reality". Before Supercritical, Matt climbed the ranks at telecom giants like AT&T and TalkTalk, leading big teams and cracking complex operational puzzles. His ability for seeing the big picture - and his dyslexia, which he says helps him “spot patterns others might miss” - makes him a natural at rethinking hydrogen production.

Add Mike Russ, the tech wizard with a PhD in aerospace engineering, and we’ve got the full package. Mike’s the guy who invented their electrolyser, drawing on his deep know-how in supercritical water systems and fuel cells. He spent five years at Ceres Power, working on their SteelCell®, a world-leading, fuel-flexible tech that generates power from fuels like natural gas, biogas, ethanol, or hydrogen at high efficiency 24/7, using mass-market materials.

From Vision to Victory

Supercritical’s journey started lean. Incorporated in June 2020 with “zero resources,” as Matt puts it, fueled by belief alone. “We turned down other opportunities, resigned from jobs, and came together,” he recalls. That conviction paid off. They’ve moved from lab proofs to real-world demos like the WhiskHy project with Beam Suntory, enabling Scotch whisky distilleries to produce and store hydrogen on site, which drastically minimising any operational reliance on non-renewable fuels, and reviving the traditional direct-firing practice, which were once core to crafting renowned Scottish’s whisky. Another project, a collaboration between Supercritical and Scottish Power, is exploring opportunities to pilot green ammonia production, aiming to commercialise the technology this decade for age-old industries like fertilisers, maritime fuel, and green ammonia as a hydrogen transport vector.

With Earth VC’s backing, they’re eyeing the next three years with laser focus. “Piloting our technology in an operational environment with a key partner, that’s the goal,” Luke says. Scaling manufacturing, cutting costs, and landing that first commercial pilot are their milestones, setting the stage for broad adoption.

In 10 years? “Success means green hydrogen is the default choice,” Matt envisions, “replacing fossil-derived hydrogen entirely.” They’re targeting cost parity with fossil fuels, just under £1/kgH2 this decade, and gigawatt-scale projects. For customers, that’s a steady supply of affordable, clean hydrogen. For co-investors, it’s a stake in a company poised to lead a trillion-dollar market shift. “The pace of change in our atmosphere is a direct result of fossil fuels,” Luke reflects. “Technology got us here. Technology will get us out.” That is not a pitch, it’s a promise.

Why You Should Care

So, why bet on Supercritical Solutions? Their tech is strategic, their team is capable. Partnerships with Shell, Scottish Power, and Beam Suntory, plus government nods from Innovate UK, back their momentum.

For customers, Supercritical is a partner to decarbonize without compromise—think cheaper and greener ammonia, or cleaner shipping fuel. For co-investors, it’s a chance to join Earth VC in backing a pioneer in the green hydrogen race, a market set to hit $52 billion by 2030. “We need urgency, real action, now”.

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