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H2GO Power and the EIC Accelerator: Hydrogen Storage Wound Up

September 29, 2026897 words5 min

H2GO Power, founded in London in 2014, developed H2Genx, described in the EIC Accelerator list as "an innovative Plug&Play hydrogen-based green energy storage system for zero-emission, safe and reliable power supply". The company worked from the Imperial White City Incubator in west London.

H2GO Power won a "grant only" award in the EIC Accelerator cut-off of October 2021. We found no H2Genx project in CORDIS, the EU's project database, so the amount and what the award paid for cannot be checked. Companies House records show that administrators were appointed on 23 August 2024. In February 2026 the shareholders resolved to wind the company up in a members' voluntary liquidation, with a declaration of solvency.

200+Investment firms approached, 2023-24
~270Potential acquirers approached
£436,704Cash at bank in administration
0CORDIS records for the award

Company file

Legal entity
H2GO Power Ltd, 09139481, England and Wales
Founded
21 July 2014
Premises
Imperial White City Incubator, London (until 2024)
Product
H2Genx hydrogen energy storage
Administration
From 23 August 2024, KRE Corporate Recovery
Status
Liquidation, members' voluntary, since February 2026
EIC award
H2Genx, October 2021 cut-off, grant only

Where H2GO Power Stands Today

H2GO Power is in liquidation. After the administration ended in August 2025, the members resolved on 12 February 2026 to wind the company up, and a voluntary liquidator was appointed in March 2026 with a declaration of solvency. Companies House flags its accounts and confirmation statement as overdue. The company's website, h2gopower.com, did not respond when we tried to load it.

The Technology: Hydrogen in a Box

The EIC list describes H2Genx as a plug-and-play storage system that uses hydrogen to supply power without emissions. With no CORDIS project and the company website offline, we could not find technical results, test data or customer deployments.

"The market interest to invest in Hydrogen was very low, and this has been exacerbated by the difficult political and financial situation which has affected climate-related work, globally."

H2GO Power's directors, in the administrators' proposals, October 2024

What the EIC Project Promised, and What the Record Shows

The award promised a hydrogen storage system for "zero-emission, safe and reliable power supply". No EU project record or results are published. According to the administrators' proposals, filed at Companies House, the directors said the company "did not received any positive responses from more than 200 investment firms that were approached worldwide in the years 2023-2024". Corporate finance advisers then approached "nearly ~270 organisations" about a sale or merger; "none of them were willing or able to proceed with a deal in a timely manner", and the board concluded "that the only course of action is to close the company".

  1. A hydrogen storage productUnclearNo public results.
  2. Private investmentMissed200+ firms said no.
  3. A buyer or partnerMissed~270 approached.
  4. SurvivalMissedIn liquidation.

What Has Happened Since the Award

The Money

In October 2024 the administrators had realised £436,704 in cash and estimated total costs of about £120,000. They said rescuing the company "could be achieved" but depended on "claims from various government funds in respect of pre-agreed grants", and they kept some employees to help sell assets and pursue those claims and an R&D tax claim. Which grants these were, and whether the EIC award was among them, is not stated. H2GO Power had won UK public money before: £4.3 million from the business department BEIS in May 2022 for SHyLO, a 1 MWh hydrogen storage system in Orkney, according to Renewable Energy Magazine, and £3.1 million of BEIS funding for its SHyGaN project under the Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator programme.

What cannot be checked

The value of the EIC award, which body paid it, how much was drawn, what the project delivered and who bought the company's assets are not public.

Why Europe Should Care

The EIC picked H2GO Power in 2021 for hydrogen storage. By its directors' own account, the private market then refused to fund it, and the award alone could not keep it alive. Without a CORDIS record, the public cannot see what the award bought.

What the project promised

A plug-and-play hydrogen storage system for zero-emission power.

What the record shows

No published results, no investor, administration in 2024 and liquidation in 2026.

The Verdict

An award without a market

H2GO Power won EIC backing but never found private money. It entered administration less than three years after the cut-off and is now being wound up.

H2GO Power has not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on UK company filings, including the administrators' proposals, linked throughout.

Start with the EIC Accelerator

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Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is a new pilot program offering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through ARPA-style staged funding with demand-side integration. The program targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, requiring TRL 4 entry with end-user commitment.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
EIC AcceleratorBeneficiary Deep Dive#H2GO Power#H2Genx#hydrogen#energy storage#insolvency#clean energy#Imperial College#United Kingdom
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