Tallinn-based startup PowerUP Energy Technologies has launched a crowdfunding campaign to supply one UP1K hydrogen generator to Ukrainian drone pilots to charge batteries and power Starlink. The developers say that in the future, fuel for the generator could be produced on-site through electrolysis.
Tallinn-based startup PowerUP Energy Technologies has launched a crowdfunding campaign to supply one UP1K hydrogen generator to Ukrainian drone pilots to charge batteries and power Starlink. The developers say that in the future, fuel for the generator could be produced on-site through electrolysis.
As reported by Tech.eu, hydrogen technology has great potential in Ukraine, as it is produced in large quantities by Ukrainian industrial enterprises throughout the country.
PowerUP creates portable, zero-emission hydrogen-powered generators. Specifically, the generators combine lithium-ion batteries with hydrogen fuel cells. This allows for a significant reduction in the size and weight of both components—up to 20 times—reducing capital investment for customers and extending the lifespan of the systems.
The startup is developing systems with up to 10 kW of continuous operation from fuel cells and up to 100 kW of peak power from batteries that can charge electric vehicles, for example. The company uses traditional 50-liter steel cylinders for hydrogen, which are already widely used for other gases in industries such as car repair or hospitals.
In Ukraine, PowerUP will provide electric generators to charge the drone fleet, power Starlink devices, and computers. The company notes that they do not heat up and operate quietly, which is a valuable advantage on the front lines.
«Drone teams mainly operate in trenches and shelters. A team can spend several days in a shelter. Currently, one of the main reasons for leaving a trench or shelter is to start a fossil fuel generator in a nearby shelter. This is where our UP1K generator can be a lifesaver,» PowerUP believes.
The startup claims that with their generators, soldiers don’t have to leave cover as often, which means the likelihood of their positions being exposed is lower and the chances of survival are higher.
Unlike diesel or gasoline, which must be constantly replenished and are logistically complex and dangerous, hydrogen could in the future be produced directly on site through electrolysis using water and renewable energy. This would provide the Ukrainian military with energy independence and reduce logistical vulnerabilities.
PowerUP hydrogen generators only produce water vapor when operating. This means zero CO2 emissions and a minimal thermal footprint, which is critical for frontline operations. The generator is invisible to thermal imaging cameras .
The developers point out that PowerUP generators stay cooler than the batteries they charge, so they won’t be detected by thermal imaging drones. Hydrogen technology allows them to be used indoors, without concerns about toxic emissions or noise.
PowerUP has conducted extensive testing with the Estonian Armed Forces, firing hydrogen cylinders from various weapons.
«None of them exploded or caught fire. The worst-case scenario is someone becoming a ‘missile’, as we say, if the cylinder is punctured. But even in that case, it is safer than transporting diesel, gasoline or methanol,» said the company’s CEO, Ivar Kruuzenberg.
In addition, hydrogen is already used in military observation balloons in Ukraine.
«It’s not their primary fuel, but they are familiar with it. We are also working with partners on mobile electrolyzers that can produce hydrogen near the front line, connecting to the grid or using solar and wind installations,» the startup’s CEO noted.
PowerUP has already created and tested this technology, including «with NATO forces and in real combat conditions.» However, financing is needed to deliver the hydrogen generator to Ukraine.
The startup says that the generator will be delivered to Ukraine immediately after the successful completion of the campaign and receipt of funds. Shipment of the generator and initial fuel will begin without delay, and delivery to Ukrainian drone operators is expected no later than August.
