Estonian hydrogen solutions company PowerUP Energy Technologies has raised a €10 million Series A round to accelerate the rollout of its hydrogen-powered electric generators. The Tallinn-based firm positions its systems as resilient power sources for both defense and critical civilian infrastructure, from frontline operations to remote telecom sites. This latest investment underlines growing investor conviction in dual-use climate technologies that can perform in the harshest operating environments.
Funding Round Details
The Series A round totals €10 million and will fuel both manufacturing scale-up and global commercialization of PowerUP’s fuel cell generator portfolio. The financing is co-led by dual-use focused investors Mercaton and ScaleWolf, with Estonia’s SmartCap Green Fund, backed by the EU’s NextGenerationEU program, also joining the round alongside existing shareholders. The new capital is intended to move PowerUP from niche deployments to broader market penetration in Europe and North America.
Dual-Use Technology and Market Focus
PowerUP’s core proposition is a modular hydrogen fuel cell generator that can serve both defense and commercial customers needing autonomous, reliable power. The systems are designed to support mission-critical activities such as security, telecommunications, surveillance, and remote operations where grid access is limited or unreliable. By positioning the same technology for both military missions and civilian infrastructure, the company targets a dual-use market in which performance and resilience are as important as sustainability.
Founder’s Vision and Field Validation
Founder and CEO Ivar Kruusenberg emphasizes that the company’s solutions are not confined to laboratory trials but have been validated in active conflict and other extreme settings. PowerUP generators have been deployed in Ukraine, demonstrating their ability to maintain operation under conditions far beyond typical commercial stress tests. Kruusenberg argues that this real-world validation effectively elevates the technology to “national security grade” and gives customers confidence that it can deliver energy sovereignty in high-risk environments.
Growth and Expansion Plans
With the fresh funding, PowerUP plans to expand its sales, reseller, and technical support networks to reach more defense and industrial customers. New regional hubs are expected in key markets such as Central Europe and North America to bring service capabilities closer to end users and respond faster to demand. In parallel, the company will invest in research and development to produce higher-density fuel cell models tailored to varying power requirements and deployment scenarios.
Investor Perspectives
ScaleWolf partner Dave Harden highlights that PowerUP’s systems have already demonstrated dependable performance where continuity of power is mission critical for both military and civilian operations. He notes that the company exemplifies the type of dual-use technology that can strengthen security and resilience while still serving commercial markets. SmartCap Managing Director Sille Pettai adds that PowerUP is capitalizing on the green transition while meeting new defense needs, since its low-noise, low-vibration, and low-heat-signature generators are especially suited to modern communication and monitoring systems.
Company Background
Founded in 2016, PowerUP develops versatile hydrogen fuel cell generators that provide silent, emission-free power for applications ranging from forward-operating military bases to industrial and off-grid civilian sites. The technology originated from engineering work for space missions with the European Space Agency, which required uncompromising reliability and autonomy. That heritage now informs solutions that aim to deliver energy independence, long-duration operation, and low maintenance for users operating in remote or sensitive locations.
PowerUP’s Series A round marks a significant step in scaling a dual-use hydrogen platform that has already proven itself in real-world crisis environments. By combining defense-grade reliability with green credentials, the company is positioning its technology as a credible alternative to traditional diesel generators for critical infrastructure. With the backing of specialized dual-use and climate-focused investors, PowerUP is now set to expand its footprint and help redefine how resilient off-grid power is delivered across both military and civilian domains.