Tallinn energy startup PowerUP Energy Technologies has launched a crowdfunding campaign to deliver one UP1K hydrogen generator directly to a drone team operating on the front lines in Ukraine. The aim is to provide a safer power supply and demonstrate the capabilities of hydrogen generators in the field.
Hydrogen technology has great potential in Ukraine, as it is produced in large quantities by Ukrainian industrial companies across the country.
Since 2016, when PowerUP was founded at UC Berkeley, its team of scientists and engineers has been focused on developing electric generators based on hydrogen fuel cells.
I spoke to CEO Ivar Kruusenberg to learn more. He shared:
“Hydrogen is one of the few fuels we produce domestically in Europe, so it’s vital for our resilience.”
PowerUP creates portable, emission-free hydrogen fuel-based electricity generators. Specifically, the generators combine lithium-ion batteries with hydrogen fuel cells.
The batteries handle the peak loads and initial power, while the fuel cells provide continuous power. This combination can significantly reduce the size and weight of both components by up to 20 times. This in turn, reduces the CapEx investment for customers and increases the lifespan of the systems.
PowerUP is solving the growing issue of energy resilience.
In the civilian world, one of the most overt challenges is blackouts, increasingly caused by the perfect storm of an outdated grid and massive electrification.
For example, in April, a cascade of generator disconnections occurred after a voltage surge and loss of synchronisation in the grid, severing ties with France and collapsing the Iberian network. Millions were affected with metros, trains, traffic signals, airports, and telecommunications all shut down. Some travellers were trapped in stations, and at least seven deaths were linked to the outage, including carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, a house fire, and failure of medical devices.
In Estonia the problem is so prevalent that “people have stopped talking about the blackouts, but they still happen every month. In some regions, outages can last for two weeks.”
According to Kruusenberg:
“Clean energy doesn’t help much if the infrastructure can’t handle it. Too much wind or solar can overload the grid and bring it down, just like what’s happened in Spain.
In Germany, a lot of energy is produced in the north, but consumed in the south. They don’t have proper north-south lines, so they use the Polish grid — something the Poles aren’t happy about, especially on days with high wind or solar.”
Scaling hydrogen for real-world use
PowerUP designs systems up to 10 kW continuous from fuel cells, and up to 100 kW peak from batteries, which can charge electric vehicles, for example. It uses traditional 50-litre steel cylinders for hydrogen, which are already widely used for other gases in industries like auto repair or hospitals. In Estonia alone, two gas suppliers operate 48 distribution centres, even on small islands. The network is vast, and the infrastructure is already in place.
Commercially, while the actual cost of producing green hydrogen at scale is likely around €6–7/kg, some suppliers charge much more simply because they can.
The price of green hydrogen varies significantly by country. In the Netherlands, it’s available in cylinders for around €15 per kilogram, making it competitive with diesel. In contrast, prices in Germany have reached as high as €200/kg, largely due to Linde’s historical monopoly—a staggering difference. Thankfully, new entrants are starting to disrupt the market and help bring prices down.
Energy at the edge: powering the front lines
Delivering electricity to the front lines is a hugely challenging task, especially given the limited fuel supplies and last-mile logistical difficulties.
Critically, PowerUP’s generator produces electricity anywhere, whether it’s in the wilderness, an off-grid home, or, most critically right now, on the front lines in Ukraine.
In Ukraine, PowerUP will provide electric generators that charge fleets of drones. This is especially important at the front line where there’s no grid. Its systems are low-heat and quiet, which is exactly what’s needed, and also support other front-line needs like powering Starlink units and computers.
Hydrogen offers a safer, local fuel source
Hydrogen is an emerging technology that offers Ukrainian teams unprecedented energy independence.
Drone teams mainly work in trenches and shelters. The team may spend days in a shelter. Currently, one of the main reasons for leaving a trench or shelter is to start a fossil fuel-powered generator in a nearby shelter. This is where our UP1K generator can be a lifesaver. Soldiers do not have to leave the shelter as often, which means that the probability of their position being betrayed is lower and their chances of survival are higher.
Unlike diesel or gasoline, which must be continuously supplied and are logistically complex and dangerous, hydrogen can be produced directly on site in the future through electrolysis using water and renewable energy.
This provides Ukrainian teams with unprecedented energy independence, reducing their reliance on vulnerable supply chains. This project is the first step towards this vision.
PowerUP hydrogen generators emit only water vapour during operation. This means zero CO2 emissions and a minimal heat footprint – all of which are critical for frontline operations. The generator is invisible to thermal imaging cameras.
In conflict zones like Ukraine, drones equipped with thermal cameras can quickly detect heat signatures— yet PowerUP’s generators remain cooler than the batteries they charge. This thermal stealth offers a significant advantage in defence operations, allowing them to be used safely in forests and indoors, such as in trenches or shelters, without concern for toxic emissions or noise.
Hydrogen is relatively safe to use on the battlefield. PowerUP has conducted extensive testing with the Estonian armed forces shooting hydrogen cylinders with different weapons.
Kruusenberg shared:
“None exploded or caught fire. The worst-case scenario is someone becoming a “rocket man,” as we say, if a cylinder gets punctured. But even then, it’s safer than carrying diesel, gasoline, or methanol.”
Further, hydrogen is already used in military surveillance balloons in Ukraine.
“It’s not their primary fuel, but they’re familiar with it. Also, we’re working with partners on mobile electrolysers that can produce hydrogen near the front line, either via grid connection, or solar and wind setups.”
Each mobile unit can fill dozens to hundreds of small cylinders, depending on the trailer size. Full cylinders are light enough to be carried by drones.
According to Kruusenberg, that’s a significant advantage, especially when liquid fuels are so hazardous and difficult to transport.
PowerUP has already built and tested the tech, including with NATO and in real combat conditions. What it needs now to get the hydrogen to Ukraine is funding.
The generator will be delivered to Ukraine immediately following the successful completion of the campaign and receipt of funds. Shipment of the generator and initial fuel will commence without delay, with delivery to the drone team expected no later than August. Updates on transport and delivery will be provided regularly, with the safety of the team remaining the top priority.
PowerUP is also working with military hospitals and camps as part of an Estonian defence force consortium, piloting the use of hydrogen for military camps and utilising locally produced fuel for critical infrastructure.
Series A round open — and they’re hiring
PowerUP is currently closing its Series A round. Kruusenberg asserts:
“The tech is ready, and we’ve got production capacity for up to 30,000 units per year. We’re hiring too — especially as we scale sales and marketing. So if you know good people, send them our way!”
