Mote Hydrogen raises $7m to scale biomass-to-hydrogen production processes

Biomass-to-hydrogen technology provider Mote Hydrogen has raised $7m in Series A financing to develop its first commercial-scale facility.

Mote focuses on biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS), converting wood waste into hydrogen while permanently capturing CO2. In an online statement, Mote described it as a “scalable solution that simultaneously strengthens domestic energy independence and supports forestry and land management.”

Reportedly, the company’s patented technology improves hydrogen yield and efficiencies while also supporting wildlife prevention and sustainable forestry management.

According to Mote’s website, it aims to capture 450,000 tonnes of CO2 per year and produce 60,000kg of hydrogen daily.

Furthermore, the US Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that up to 1.5 billion dry tonnes of biomass are available annually in the US, presenting a substantial feedstock opportunity for Mote’s hydrogen production.

Mote’s BiCRS process is spun out of research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and has been backed by the DOE, CalFire, the US Forrest Service and other agencies.

The $7m investment was led by Nella Next and Preston-Werner Ventures, with support from Counteract One, LP, Seaport Global Securities, and other strategic partners. The first phase of funding is part of a targeted $15m Series A funding round.

Mote’s CEO, Joshuah Stolaroff, said the firm has received broad support and endorsement because of its approach to hydrogen production.

However, biomass-to-hydrogen processes do face economic, logistical and policy-related hurdles, particularly around cost competitiveness with steam methane reforming (SMR), carbon capture and storage infrastructure, and market demand.

Nevertheless, referencing the policy uncertainty in Washington regarding decarbonisation, Mote emphasised that its independence from government incentives suggests it can survive despite policy shifts.