Noble Gas Systems (Wixom, Mich., U.S.) announced on March 18 that it has raised $4.2 million in an initial closing of Series B funding. Funds were provided by AP Ventures, which supported Noble Gas in its Series A Funding, with participation from new investors Aliad (Air Liquide Venture Capital) and Nova by Saint-Gobain, the venture arm of Saint-Gobain.
Noble Gas develops and manufactures conformable high-pressure hydrogen gas storage vessels for hydrogen, natural gas, air, oxygen, nitrogen and other compressed gases. The system — comprising a polymer liner, woven reinforcement and protective outer shell — can be fabricated in a variety of shapes and sizes to be easily integrated into existing product configurations. In addition to the transportation industry, it has applications in defense, aviation, marine and industrial gas industries.
The funding will support development testing of the company’s 700-bar (10,000 psi) design qualifications and completion of the application process to receive the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Special Permit for Noble Gas storage vessels to be used in bulk storage and over-the-road transportation of hydrogen and other gases. Additionally, the funding will help accelerate the development of the company’s pilot manufacturing plant and expand its R&D teams.
“This round of funding brings us closer to delivering a scalable clean-energy solution,” says Chris Kondogiani, CEO of Noble Gas Systems. “The backing of industry leaders like Air Liquide and Saint-Gobain further strengthens our expertise and accelerates our path to downstream markets, reinforcing the momentum needed to drive innovation and adoption in the hydrogen economy.”
Noble Gas recently relocated to a 32,000-square-foot facility in Wixom, Michigan, to consolidate the commercial and manufacturing operations, forming the company’s headquarters. The pilot manufacturing plant, currently in development, will manufacture vessels for low-production-volume projects and demonstrates the company’s commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing.