Mantle8, a Grenoble-based pure hydrogen exploration firm, has introduced at this time the shut of its €3.4 million Seed financing spherical to run a technological pilot to picture and quantify hydrogen methods within the floor.
The funding spherical noticed participation from Kiko Ventures and Breakthrough Vitality Ventures Europe (BEV-E), with further participation from distinguished angel traders.
“Our science-first method represents a paradigm shift in hydrogen exploration. It makes hydrogen discovery extra scalable, correct, sooner and worthwhile,” stated Emmanuel Masini, Founder and CEO of Mantle8. “Our know-how was based on broad and intimate collaboration with the scientific neighborhood. The subsequent step was discovering the correct companions that might allow us to ship this know-how boldly. With the assist of our traders, we now have the gasoline to maneuver on the obligatory tempo.”
Mantle8 was based in 2024 and includes a group of geologists with 20 years of expertise within the discipline. Mantle8 has developed geological fashions and imaging applied sciences that detect the most effective pure hydrogen places with “world-first accuracy“. The corporate’s validated applied sciences visualise the complete hydrogen producing system – together with the quantity and high quality of hydrogen current.
This know-how permits Mantle8 to establish optimum pure hydrogen reservoirs and goal hydrogen manufacturing at €0.77/kg – a value level that would “revolutionise the clear power market“.
The brand new funds will likely be used to run a technological pilot to picture and quantify hydrogen methods within the floor. Mantle8 may even additional develop the cross-border scalability of its know-how and increase its group by hiring new AI and geochemistry specialists.
Pure hydrogen is produced by nature when water reacts with iron wealthy rocks underground. Not like standard hydrogen manufacturing strategies, pure hydrogen doesn’t require energy-intensive separation processes.
Whereas low-carbon options comparable to electrolysis from renewable energies have emerged, Mantle8 argues that they continue to be pricey. As industries worldwide search sustainable options for hard-to-decarbonise sectors like metal, cement and aviation, pure hydrogen has the potential to remove the inexperienced premium and develop into the sustainable answer for attaining net-zero targets.
“Most present approaches to pure hydrogen extraction are primarily based on trial and error, however Mantle8’s proprietary know-how relies on rigorous science,” added Rob Trezona from Kiko Ventures. “We’re massive believers within the hydrogen economic system and exited our final funding in hydrogen at over a billion; this could possibly be much more beneficial.”
In response to Mantle8, they’re the primary actually geology-based pure hydrogen exploration firm. Some corporations are already experimentally drilling for pure hydrogen primarily based on floor or former drill gap indications. However equally to grease and gasoline or mining exploration, dependable and vital new finds come from geoscientists analysing the Earth’s subsurface to proof the sources obtainable beneath.
Mantle8’s know-how is scalable for the evaluation and exploration of the complete planet. Its accuracy and element imply that the mission growth time for pure hydrogen exploration is halved, doubtlessly saving tens of millions in prices.
By 2030 Mantle8 goals to seek out 10Mt of pure hydrogen, complementing the EU purpose of manufacturing and importing the identical quantity of hydrogen generated from renewable power.
“Mantle8’s expansive regional data and geology-based method to pure hydrogen exploration places the corporate in a robust place to make inexpensive hydrogen a actuality in Europe,” stated Carmichael Roberts of Breakthrough Vitality Ventures. “With its group of skilled geologists and its bottom-up exploration method, Mantle8 could have a major affect on reworking hydrogen discovery.”
