Hydrogen Innovators

Latest Episodes:

Episode 33 | Dolf Gielen | What It Takes to Make Green Hydrogen Bankable with Dolf Gielen Aug 05, 2026

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New episode of Hydrogen Innovators is out! ⚡️

In this conversation, Emma Kerr and I speak with Dolf Gielen, Hydrogen Lead and Senior Energy Economist at the World Bank, about what it will actually take to make green hydrogen projects bankable.

We discuss electrolyzer cost realities, the importance of affordable renewable electricity and financing, infrastructure and offtake challenges, and how emerging markets can build hydrogen economies that create local jobs, energy security, and long-term economic value. Green hydrogen will not scale on technology alone. Successful projects need the full ecosystem, competitive costs, credible demand, enabling infrastructure, thoughtful policy, and financing structures that reduce risk.

Episode 32 | Yuval Bachar | Decoupling the Grid: Building the World's First Off-Grid, Hydrogen-Powered AI Data Centers Jun 17, 2026

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As artificial intelligence continues its rapid expansion, the energy and water demands of modern data centers are reaching a massive inflection point, threatening to push an already saturated electrical grid past its limits. In this episode of Hydrogen Innovators, hosts Emma Kerr and Milenia Rojas sit down with Yuval Bachar, Founder and CEO of Edge Cloud Link (ECL).

A veteran infrastructure architect who previously led hardware strategy at Microsoft, Facebook, and LinkedIn, Yuval discusses how ECL is disrupting the industry by pioneering zero-emission, zero-water, completely off-grid data centers powered by PEM fuel cells. Discover how modular design is transforming data center supply chains, how active-active battery architectures manage the volatile power transients of high-density AI chips like NVIDIA’s next-generation architectures, and why a culture of absolute competence—and zero fear of failure—is essential for the future of clean energy innovation.

Episode 31 | Pete Johnson | Beneath the Surface: Geologic Hydrogen Apr 29, 2026

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In this episode of the Hydrogen Innovators Podcast, we speak with Pete Johnson, CEO of Koloma, about the promise of geological hydrogen, the lessons he has carried from scaling Monolith Materials, and the opportunities and uncertainties shaping the hydrogen sector today.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on scale, innovation, and one of the most exciting new frontiers in hydrogen.

#HydrogenInnovators #WhiteHydrogen #NaturalHydrogen #HydrogenEconomy #CleanTech #EnergyTransition #StanfordPodcast #Koloma

Episode 30 | Seonghoon Woo | Cracking the Code: Why Ammonia is the Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Hero Mar 13, 2026

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Ammonia is often associated with fertilizers, but it might just be the "Trojan Horse" that allows the hydrogen economy to finally scale. In this episode of Hydrogen Innovators, we sit down with Seonghoon Woo, CEO and co-founder of Amogy, to explore how their breakthrough ammonia-cracking technology is unlocking carbon-free power for heavy-duty mobility and industry.

Seonghoon explains why ammonia’s energy density and existing global infrastructure (200+ ports and thousands of miles of pipeline) make it a more practical carrier than compressed hydrogen. We dive into Amogy’s rapid scale-up—from powering drones and tractors to the successful 2024 tugboat demonstration—and discuss their shift toward commercial deployment in the Asia-Pacific market. Seonghoon also shares candid insights on the "clean premium" of green ammonia, the necessity of strategic investors for hardware startups, and why he believes under-promising and over-delivering is the only way to build trust in the conservative world of heavy industry.

Episode 29 | Henrik Larsen | Technical perspective on H2 derivatives Feb 01, 2026

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Episode 28 | Marc Bednarz | How to Build Successful Power-to-X Projects Dec 08, 2025

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In this episode of the Stanford Hydrogen Innovators Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Marc Bednarz, an accomplished electrochemist, project developer, and CEO of Cohyba, who has spent over two decades building hydrogen and clean energy technologies across Europe, Asia, and the world. Marc shares a rare inside look at what project development really means for large-scale green hydrogen and Power-to-X projects — from technology selection and bankability to engineering integration, financing, and offtake.

Drawing on his experience leading CWP Global’s Hydrogen & Derivatives team, Marc explains where Europe is making the fastest progress, where bottlenecks remain, and what it will take to accelerate deployment at gigawatt scale.

Episode 27 | Ivana Jemelkova | Global Progress and the Shift from Ambition to Delivery Oct 28, 2025

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In this episode, we sit down with Ivana Jemelkova, Chief Executive Officer of the Hydrogen Council, to explore global hydrogen progress and what it really takes to turn vision into scale. Ivana shares insights from the Council’s new Global Hydrogen Compass report, revealing over $110 billion in committed investments and 510 projects worldwide, and breaks down what’s driving momentum across China, North America, and Europe.
We explore the essentials for growth demand, policy clarity, standardization, and infrastructure, and why, as Ivana puts it, “the energy transition will move at the speed of trust.”
An inspiring conversation about how hydrogen is moving from ambition to delivery.

Episode 26 | Kamden Maas | Steel Wins: Simplifying Hydrogen Storage Sep 30, 2025

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Hydrogen storage might not be flashy, but it’s foundational. In this episode of Hydrogen Innovators, we sit down with Kamden Maas, U.S. Sales Manager at Atlanta Cylinders, to unpack how Type I all-steel cylinders are helping projects move from pilot to deployment. Kamden explains why long-lived, stackable, high-pressure steel storage (700 bar U.S.; up to 1000 bar in the EU approvals) can cut costs versus composite alternatives, what third-party certifications (DOT/ASME vs. ISO) really mean for safety, and how storage design choices ripple through refueling, backup power, and site footprint. We also get a candid market tour—Spain/Portugal and Northern Europe’s momentum, steady progress in the U.S. Gulf—and a call for practical collaboration across suppliers, developers, and communities. Kamden closes with advice for early-career professionals on leading with authenticity and pushing the envelope in a constantly evolving industry.

Episode 25 | Sridhar Kanuri | Deploying Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers at Scale Jun 12, 2025

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In this episode of Hydrogen Innovators, co-hosts Emma Kerr and Melania Rojas Mendoza sit down with Sridhar Kanuri, Global Chief Technology Officer for both HyAxiom and Doosan Fuel Cell corporation. With decades of experience in hydrogen and electrochemical systems, Sridhar shares his insights on deploying fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies at scale—from hospital microgrids to hydrogen-powered AI data centers. The conversation covers everything from the challenges of scaling lab innovations to the importance of service infrastructure, global collaboration, and building the right team. Sridhar also offers thoughtful advice for early-career scientists and engineers and reflects on the global momentum driving the energy transition.

Episode 24 | Pierre-Etienne Franc | Accelerating the Hydrogen Economy Through Infrastructure Investment May 28, 2025

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In this episode of the Hydrogen Innovators podcast, we sit down with Pierre-Etienne Franc, a global leader in hydrogen investment and infrastructure. As the CEO of Hy24, the world’s largest clean hydrogen infrastructure fund, and co-founder of both FiveT Hydrogen and the Hydrogen Council, Pierre-Etienne has played a pivotal role in shaping the hydrogen economy from multiple angles: finance, policy, and industrial deployment.

Pierre-Etienne walks us through his journey from launching Air Liquide’s Hydrogen Energy business to spearheading multi-billion-euro investments in clean hydrogen across the full value chain. He shares key insights into how Hy24 evaluates risk, aligns diverse stakeholders, and drives large-scale deployment at speed and scale. We also unpack common misconceptions about hydrogen, explore the emerging project hotspots around the world, and reflect on the leadership qualities needed to build lasting climate infrastructure.

Whether you're a policymaker, investor, entrepreneur, or student, this episode offers a rare inside look at the strategic vision and deep conviction driving one of hydrogen’s most influential voices.

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