Provaris Energy raises $1.3M for hydrogen & CO₂ plans - ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Provaris Energy Ltd (ASX:PV1, OTC:GBBLF, FRA:WS90) earlier this week outlined how a newly completed capital raise will support the next phase of development across the company’s hydrogen and CO₂ transport programs.

Managing director and CEO Martin Carolan told Proactive the company had secured firm commitments to raise $1.325 million through an oversubscribed placement, with funds earmarked for key technical milestones in the lead-up to potential commercial outcomes.

Carolan said the capital would primarily support the company’s hydrogen prototype tank development and associated Class Approval workstreams, as well as operating costs linked to its Robotic Innovation Centre in Norway.

He explained that Provaris Energy Ltd was progressing two parallel programs designed to enable the transport of green fuels across emerging energy supply chains.

Interview highlights

Provaris Energy Ltd has raised $1.325 million through an oversubscribed placement. Funds will support the company’s 2026 development work program. Capital will primarily advance the hydrogen prototype tank and Class Approval program. The company is also progressing a liquid CO₂ (LCO₂) transport program. The LCO₂ FEED and Class Approval workstreams are funded by partner Yinson. Technical milestones for both programs are expected around mid-year. Provaris Energy Ltd is targeting commercial milestones and potential licensing opportunities by 2026. The company’s hydrogen supply chain concept focuses on transport routes from the Nordics to Germany, limiting geopolitical exposure. Rising energy prices and supply security concerns are renewing investor focus on alternative fuels such as green hydrogen. The company expects to transition from development costs toward potential revenue opportunities next year.

Proactive: Welcome back to Proactive Investors. I'm your host Kerry Stevenson. I've asked Martin Carolan, Managing Director and CEO of Provaris Energy Ltd, to join us. The company is developing green hydrogen and CO₂ solutions, and energy is very much at the forefront of everyone's minds right now. Martin, it's been about a month since we last spoke and a lot has happened. Can you give us an update?

Martin Carolan: Thanks Kerry. Firstly, we are delighted to have raised capital which continues the funding of our technical program. We have two streams underway. One is the final stages of our prototype tank for hydrogen carriers and the corresponding Class Approval process. That continues through to technical milestones around mid-year. From there we expect to start seeing conversion into commercial events by the latter part of 2026.

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At the same time, our CO₂ program is progressing through front-end engineering design (FEED) and related cost approvals. That project is funded by our partner Yinson, so that workstream is fully funded. Overall we now have two programs moving forward with technical milestones expected mid-year and commercial milestones to follow, which gives investors a clearer line of sight on licensing and revenue opportunities.

Proactive: Just for viewers who may not be familiar, FEED stands for front-end engineering design. What will the funds from the latest capital raise be used for?

Martin Carolan: The funds will be directed mainly toward the hydrogen program, which we fully fund and where we own the outcomes of the development work. On the CO₂ side we have partner funding from Yinson, which we jointly work on. So we have the right technical and commercial partners in place as well as funding assistance for that workstream.

Proactive: Both hydrogen and CO₂ transport relate to lower-carbon technologies. With energy prices rising again, particularly in Europe, does that increase pressure to accelerate development?

Martin Carolan: If we look back to 2022 when the war in Ukraine broke out, energy prices surged and there was a strong focus on energy security. Over the last couple of years gas prices have eased, but the underlying issue remains that supply disruptions will continue for decades. As a result, access to alternative fuels such as green hydrogen becomes increasingly important.

Gas prices in Europe have increased significantly again over the past year, which brings renewed attention to the sector. When there are concerns about supply security and price volatility, the relevance of greener fuels comes back into focus for investors.

Proactive: Were investors asking questions about geopolitical risks when you were raising capital this week?

Martin Carolan: Yes, some investors asked whether our shipping routes had exposure to the Middle East. Our supply chains are focused on transporting hydrogen from the Nordics to Germany, so they are contained within Europe. That means we are not exposed to areas like the Strait of Hormuz, which helps from a regional risk perspective.

Proactive: And Europe is certainly in need of additional energy supply.

Martin Carolan: Absolutely. Our focus has been on developing solutions that reduce capital expenditure and operating costs for hydrogen transport. If we can lower costs within those supply chains, it makes the solutions more competitive in markets where fossil fuel prices are rising.

We expect completion of key technical milestones around mid-year, with commercial events potentially following later. We are also nearing the end of our development cost phase and looking toward revenue opportunities next year.

Proactive: It sounds like 2026 could be a pivotal year for the company. Martin, thanks very much for joining us.

Martin Carolan: Thanks Kerry.

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