Challenges
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Route to market strategy
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Investor Engagement
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Commercial strategy
Client
Bramble Energy
Challenge
Bramble Energy, a UK SME spun out of University College London and Imperial College London in 2016, had developed a high-performance, low-cost hydrogen fuel cell design using PCBs. Their aim was to construct hydrogen fuel cells using existing materials and manufacturing techniques to reduce supply chain complexity and production costs, addressing one of the main barriers to adoption and scale-up of fuel cells. When they began their EEF project in February 2019, they needed support to develop an operational prototype of a portable fuel cell diesel genset replacement system.
Solution
The EEF project focused on research and development of Bramble Energy’s technology, with incubation support provided on global market opportunities, overseas regulations, and manufacturing cost modelling. This support informed their target export markets and underpinned investor pitches. Additionally, a cost model was developed which shaped the company’s technical, manufacturing, and commercial approach.
Outcome
The EEF project enabled Bramble Energy to begin scaling up significantly. At the start of the project, the company had a team of 5 working in a garage, but by 2021 they had moved into a manufacturing facility in Crawley with capacity for up to 1,000 units over three years, and the team had grown to 35 people.
The successful development of a prototype product for field trials helped the company secure an initial £5 million investment in 2020 from BGF, IP Group, Parkwalk and UCL Technology Fund. Bramble Energy subsequently launched its first products, a range of portable fuel cell diesel genset replacements.
Since moving to their new site in early 2021, Bramble achieved sales of their first product through BOC, established a relationship with MAHLE Powertrain for development of a fuel cell demonstrator vehicle (a Renault Kangoo), and started development of a modular electrolyser for green hydrogen aimed at making electrolysers more affordable. This progress resulted in a £35 million investment round in early 2022, led by HydrogenOne Capital Growth plc, to roll out and scale up Bramble’s portable power products globally and to continue developing its liquid-cooled fuel cell stack capability.
Additional achievements since the start of the EEF project included:
- £40 million private funding raised
- Manufacturing facility established in Crawley
- Growth from 5 to 35 team members
- First products launched with initial B2B sales achieved
- Two new patents filed
- Grant funding secured for a maritime fuel cell application
