A pioneering new engine which will propel the shipping sector towards net zero has received £800,000 of fresh backing from TRICAPITAL Angels and Blackfinch Ventures.
H2CHP has now raised nearly £4million to develop its free-piston engine, which generates heat and power efficiently from multiple clean fuels.
The technology, initially aimed at eliminating emissions from idle ships burning marine fuel when berthed, also has significant potential in other sectors requiring off-grid power solutions.
As it moves toward commercialisation, the company will now make key hires in its sales and operations teams, expanding its footprint across Durham and Aberdeen.
The shipping sector is facing strong regulatory currents under the UK Government’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, which seeks to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, 80% by 2040, and net zero emissions by 2050.
A key component of this strategy is integrating the shipping sector into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS), imposing higher costs on operators of larger, more polluting vessels.
This regulatory shift creates urgency for maritime industries to adopt cleaner technologies to mitigate financial and operational risks associated with carbon-intensive operations.
H2CHP’s groundbreaking free-piston generator offers a timely solution to these challenges. Unlike traditional internal combustion engines, the compact and lightweight generator can operate on various fuels, including emerging low and zero carbon alternatives.
This versatility enables maritime operators to transition seamlessly to cleaner energy sources.
In 2024, the company won the Tech-X Accelerator Award for Economic Impact. Since then, it has secured a partnership with a UK-based engine manufacturer and is on track to deliver its first working prototype by mid-2025.
The generator system is backed by strong IP and over 25 years of academic research from company founder Professor Tony Roskilly, a world leader in energy systems and Director of the Durham Energy Institute.
Professor Roskilly, who has authored more than 200 academic papers, is supported by CEO Dr Stephen Hampson – a venture-backed entrepreneur and academic with a decade-long track record of growing and exiting high-tech startups.
Together, they are steering H2CHP through rapid development, with support from Teesside’s PD Ports, which will host the company’s initial real-world trials, and advisory firm Ph3 Capital.
“This latest investment gives us the firepower to accelerate R&D, finalise our prototype, and prepare for market entry,” said Dr Hampson.
“We’re building a technology that can radically reduce emissions in sectors where decarbonisation has been difficult—starting with shipping and off-grid energy.”
Moray Martin, CEO of TRICAPITAL Angels, said: “H2CHP is exactly the kind of innovation that the UK needs to meet the fast-approaching challenges of decarbonisation.
“The team has developed a world-first technology that’s both deeply intelligent and brilliantly simple – an adaptable, clean generator that can help future-proof sectors like maritime and remote infrastructure, which are under increasing pressure from tightening emissions regulations.
“We’re proud to back a company with this level of technical excellence, commercial clarity and global impact potential.”
Kimberley Hay, Senior Ventures Manager at Blackfinch Ventures, said: “Our research into the energy transition shows that the transport sector represents the largest contributor to greenhouse gases in the UK.
“The technology provided by H2CHP has the potential to make a significant impact in the shipping industry, which naturally presents a strong alignment with our thematic investment mandate to support decarbonisation efforts.
“The opportunity is wider than just transport though, and we see applications across multiple markets where heat and power demand needs to switch to clean energy fuels. We look forward to supporting the team and their product development.”
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