In Focus with Jas Singh – Auriga Energy

We last caught up with Jas in 2017 when his company, Auriga Energy, had launched the UK’s first hydrogen-powered passenger boat, Hydrogenesis, in the Bristol harbour. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength.

Since we last spoke 5 years ago, how has your business evolved?

Back in 2017 we were looking at clean portable generators and ways to introduce renewable energy in the marine world. We’re still going down multiple routes, which – for us – is the key to a sustainable business. The hydrogen-powered fuel cell forms the basis of our development as we explore other applications in maritime and road transport.

And you’ve been spending more time in Europe in the meantime?

Yes. Since 2017 we’ve been a partner in the Hylantic project, which addresses global energy issues and is supported by the EU Interreg Atlantic Fund. Interreg supports cooperation across borders to jointly tackle common challenges and find shared solutions in fields such as the environment and sustainable energy. The lead partner in the Hylantic project is the University of Cantabria, based in Santander, so I’ve spent time progressing the project over in Spain, France and Ireland, in addition to hosting the project partners at the SS Great Britain here in Bristol.

The project has been developing various elements of hydrogen technologies applied in the maritime domain, where we’ve been developing our next generation, higher power, marine rated fuel cells.

How is the testing going?

We’re currently in the final stages of testing the prototype, and we’re hoping to deploy that to power a Contessa Class yacht with our partners North Devon Marine, based in Ilfracombe. We’re planning that for late spring, when the weather’s a bit better!

And the technology is also being used in forklifts too, is that right?

That’s right. In November, we were invited to demonstrate our AurigaGen FL, forklift power unit at a factory in Asturias, Spain, where the fuel cell performed excellently.

Following the demonstration they held an official event, attended by politicians and the national media, to announce the intended investment in ‘Auriga Energy Spain’ as a manufacturing centre for our products. It’s a really positive development, and hopefully this investment would allow us to move forward more quickly.

What brilliant progress. And what do you see in the future for Auriga Energy?

Now that we’ve developed our baseline range of products and proven them in applications, most notably in the Hydrogenesis (which continues to operate in boat trip mode in its 8^th year), we need to get these out into the market. The proposed investment would allow that to happen.

How is the general appetite for introducing the sustainable measures we need in the UK?

I think intentions are improving, and we have to take that as a positive sign. Delivery is going to take time.

But the world is gradually turning to hydrogen as a pure, clean form of energy and we want to be ready to serve that. After over thirteen years of hard slog, including two years lost in the pandemic, the future is looking fantastic.

Click here for more information about Auriga Energy.