A Nobel laureate-backed startup is striving for a breakthrough in hydrogen storage, with the goal of achieving the 'holy grail' of energy storage.

• H2MOF, founded in 2021, aims to create a hydrogen storage solution using cutting-edge molecular engineering materials.
• Professor Fraser Stoddart, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016 and one of the co-founders of H2MOF, stated that the production of hydrogen is a settled problem, according to CNBC via videoconference.
• Storing hydrogen at low pressures and ambient temperatures is the major challenge in producing it efficiently, according to Stoddart.

A hydrogen energy startup in California, backed by two scientists including a Nobel laureate, is confident it will make a "quantum leap" in the race for clean energy.

H2MOF, founded in 2021, aims to create a hydrogen storage solution using cutting-edge molecular engineering materials.

The greatest challenge facing the hydrogen economy is on the verge of being solved.

Professor Fraser Stoddart, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016 and one of the co-founders of H2MOF, stated that the production of hydrogen is a settled problem, according to CNBC via videoconference.

Stoddart stated that while there are many efficient methods for producing hydrogen, the main challenge is storing it in a way that can store a large amount at low pressures and ambient temperatures. Despite this, he is confident that they will find a solution.

In the universe, hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element, and has been touted as a promising energy source for the green transition.

Producing hydrogen fuel using renewable energy sources results in a minimal climate impact, making it a viable option for transportation and electricity generation.

The production of most hydrogen currently relies on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, resulting in emissions that contribute to global warming.

H2MOF, founded by Professor Omar Yaghi, aims to compress hydrogen into a small space without employing high pressure or low temperatures, according to the company's founder.

Yaghi stated that the ideal solution for storing hydrogen at room temperature for use in automobile fueling is the ultimate goal in the field.

The co-founders of H2MOF hope to overcome the high costs and energy demands of traditional hydrogen storage methods by designing tanks that can store energy-rich fuel in a solid state.

Yaghi, the inventor of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, stated that it is challenging to determine the exact time when H2MOF's technology will significantly enhance hydrogen storage capacity and safety.

Yaghi stated that in the upcoming years, we can expect another significant advancement in quantum physics.

Hydrogen challenges

Despite global challenges such as increasing interest rates and supply chain disruptions, the demand for hydrogen power is on the rise.

In recent years, countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and Australia have unveiled or updated their national hydrogen strategies, with the aim of increasing their dependence on the gas to transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Hydrogen Council published a report in late 2020 stating that the hydrogen project pipeline had increased by 35% to $570 billion from just six months prior.

While global hydrogen investments through 2030 are expected to continue, additional projects must be announced and existing projects must progress more quickly.

H2MOF CEO and co-founder Samer Taha stated that an "intermediate solution" to the hydrogen storage challenge is likely to be accomplished in a few years.

Taha stated via videoconference to CNBC that while achieving the holy grail may take more than a couple of years, it is not necessarily a matter of decades. He predicts that the speed of research progress, accelerated by AI and computer-generated models, will make it a matter of years rather than decades.

H2MOF endorsed his colleague's timeline, but acknowledged that predicting the future is always challenging.

While hydrogen can contribute to the energy transition, it must be used in a climate-aligned manner to avoid increasing pollution and slowing clean energy advancements.

Taha stated that there are challenges in meeting energy demands, as electricity alone cannot solve all the requirements. He emphasized that an alternative fuel with high energy density, similar or better than a fossil fuel, is necessary. Currently, hydrogen is the cleanest option available. Taha concluded that eventually, electrification will reach a limit, and hydrogen will be the solution.