A Hull company pioneering a new low cost method to produce zero emission hydrogen has been crowned KPMG’s Global Tech Innovator for 2022.
HiiRoc, a heavily backed start-up behind modular production of the industry game-changing fuel, emerged ahead of a field of 1,100 applicants from 22 countries in Lisbon. It followed a summer win in the domestic heat, and comes just weeks after taking the technology and innovation category by storm at the Hull Live Business Awards.
The company's scale-up potential is described as having the ability to capture the world’s attention, with the proprietary technology praised.
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Tim Davies, HiiRoc’s founder and chief executive, said: “It is such an honour and a testament to our amazing team for HiiRoc to be selected as this year’s KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator winner. The competition in the global finals was really impressive, and we’re thrilled to be recognised amid such an amazing group of brilliant innovations and entrepreneurs.
“We sincerely thank KPMG Private Enterprise and our KPMG Private Enterprise UK team for their support at every step in the process. We’re ready and eager to take the next step forward for our company.”
Research and development has been undertaken at the company's premises in National Avenue, with plans formulated to launch larger manufacturing facilities on the Energy Estuary, with strong capital fundraises behind it and blue chip companies on board.
A team of 80 has been built up since a 2019 launch, and it saw recent success with one investor - Centrica - set to co-inject hydrogen as a feedstock at its Brigg power plant.
HiiRoc supplies from a container-type operation on-site, where biomethane, flare gas or natural gas is converted through an innovative thermal plasma electrolysis process. It results in a low or potentially negative carbon, ‘emerald hydrogen’.
With the byproduct, carbon black, pure and in a valuable solid form, the team say it can be easily supplied for tyre, rubber and toner production, with further opportunities in building materials and soil enhancers.
Warren Middleton, KPMG Private Enterprise’s emerging giants leader in the UK, said: “Hydrogen is the new green fuel of the future. We saw the potential in HiiRoc immediately. We couldn’t be more excited about the recognition they have received, and the opportunity to help them showcase their brilliant innovation, to continue to grow their business and transform the global energy system.
“HiiRoc is a modern success story of entrepreneurialism, innovation and ambition. We’re seeing more and more of this kind of drive across the world and that’s a very positive sign for the future. “Congratulations to HiiROC for bringing the global crown home to the UK. The entire KPMG Private Enterprise team in the UK is looking forward to watching your company grow and prosper.”
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