TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Blade Hydrogen Green Technology is carving a path in Taiwan’s hydrogen sector with plans to scale production and go public by 2028.
Located in Tainan Industrial Park, the 20-person startup stands out not for its size but for its technology, per CNA. Its patents, covering a metal plate fuel cell stack and a mixed-hydrogen fuel cell, reduce costs and boost durability, tackling one of the industry’s toughest hurdles.
Founded in 2022 with backing from the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Blade Hydrogen matured quickly. It began at Tainan’s Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City before shifting to Heshun Industrial Area for early production.
In May, the company upgraded to a 600-ping (1 ping equals 3.3 square meters) plant in Tainan Industrial Park, but its ambitions are bigger. Construction on a 2,800-ping facility in Tainan Science Park is set for September, with IPO plans scheduled for 2027–2028.
Blade Hydrogen Chair Li Chun-han (李鈞函) said the company is at a “crucial early stage” in scaling hydrogen technology. Dressed in ITRI’s standard blue uniform, he was seen overseeing equipment operations under the summer sun.
The startup’s strategy is tied to Taiwan’s semiconductor and petrochemical industries, which produce large volumes of byproduct hydrogen. By developing systems to use this excess hydrogen, the firm aims to cut energy waste and carbon emissions.
Its shareholders include Mobiletron and semiconductor equipment suppliers, reflecting close industry links. With strong demand, Blade Hydrogen broke even in just two and a half years, aided by sales to heavy power users and green power certification projects.
Current production capacity is ten 150 kW generators per year, but the new Tainan Industrial Park site will increase output more than tenfold.
Li said the company’s short-term focus is stationary fuel cell power systems in Taiwan, with a medium-term goal of vehicle applications using metal plate stacks for long-haul transport. In the long term, Blade Hydrogen aims to expand into hydrogen electrolysis modules for storage and production.
Challenges remain, including Taiwan’s limited hydrogen infrastructure and high investment costs for refueling stations. “On this road to hydrogen, the challenges will only grow. This is just the beginning,” Li said.
