Fuel cell manufacturer Hyperion moves back to Ohio

Hyperion factory in Columbus, Ohio Photo credit: Serif Creative and Matt Reese.jpg

Hyperion is to invest approx. $297 million in a new facility to manufacture its next-gen hydrogen fuel cells. The cells will be used to power new lines of stationary and mobile energy storage products.

Formed in 2011, Hyperion focuses on development of green hydrogen-based power and delivery solutions for a wide range of industries.

The investment will see the company move its headquarters from southern California to a 65-acre site in Columbus, Ohio. Before moving to California, Hyperion was founded in Columbus.

The new location is in the buildings which once housed the printing operations of the Columbus Dispatch. The layout of the building, designed to support roll-to-roll printing, mirrors that process used to complete the coating process for the high-yield fuel cell membrane.

A series of other fuel cell development companies are reported to have moved into Ohio, making it a centre for the advanced power solutions.

In addition to manufacturing, the new facility will have an R&D centre. In total, the new headquarters will create about 680 jobs.

Angelo Kafantaris, CEO of Hyperion and a Ohio native said: “After 10 years of development, we are thrilled to bring our hydrogen technology back to Columbus where it all started. Building the XP-1 allowed us to test and refine our fuel cell technology, allowing us to create the most advanced green hydrogen fuel cell stack for a number of different applications.

“With its ability to store mass quantities of electric energy, hydrogen has tremendous long-term, zero-emission potential for the energy sector, and will be one of the most powerful tools in reducing carbon emissions on a global scale.”

Hyperion XP-1 Photo credit: Hyperion

The XP-1 is a hypercar which will be used to demonstrate the performance of the fuel cell technology. Featuring a carbonfibre monocoque, the XP-1 will offer a range up to 1,000 miles and a top speed of about 220 mph. Instead of the fuel cell charging a battery pack, the car will use supercapacitors which offer an improved power delivery response time and reduced weight.

Supported by the existing supply base in Ohio, Hyperion is looking to start production of its fuel cells by 2023.