What SoHHytec does

SoHHytec Ltd is a Swiss cleantech company, spun out of EPFL's Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering, that develops the "Arb" — a fully automated, self-sustainable renewable system producing hydrogen, oxygen, electricity, and usable heat simultaneously from solar irradiation and water. The technology is built on the company's patented Integrated Photo-Electrochemical Device (IPEC), which operates with concentrated solar irradiation and avoids solid-electrolyte interfaces, achieving approximately 24.4% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in product-scale pilots (per Nature Energy 2022). The Arb is offered in three sizes (9m, 13m, 25m) producing 10–80 kg/day of hydrogen, with a claimed 25-year operational lifetime and only 10% land occupation. The portfolio also includes the Electrical Arb (electricity/heat co-generation at >36% efficiency) and the in-development Reversible Arb (two-way hydrogen-to-power), developed with the European Space Agency.

The company serves industrial manufacturers in heavy industry (steel, chemicals, fertilizers, energy), as well as commercial/residential, agricultural, and specialized space applications. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales of turn-key "gardens" or "forests" of Arb units customized to each client's hydrogen, oxygen, electricity, and heat needs, complemented by 25-year service contracts and a "Hydrogen and Power as a Service" managed offering. Distribution relies on direct sales in Switzerland and other markets, with TKIL Industries serving as exclusive channel partner for India. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed.

The company is venture-backed, with a USD 2 million seed round led by Singapore-based FUND4SE in January 2022, approximately USD 1.6M in prior Swiss non-dilutive funding, and an undisclosed strategic investment from TKIL Industries in December 2024. It has won multiple awards (Mars Habitat Challenge 2022, Monaco Hydrogen Alliance Best Emerging Technology 2023, Top 31 Swiss Startups to Invest In 2021) and is developing its first industrial pilot at a Swiss stainless steel tube manufacturer.

Name

SoHHytec

Legal name

SoHHytec Ltd

Website

https://sohhytec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SoHHytec is a Swiss cleantech company that builds the patented Arb system — an "artificial tree" using concentrated solar energy and water to co-produce green hydrogen, oxygen, electricity, and heat for industrial, commercial, and heavy-industry customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Green Hydrogen Generation Systems

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid Renewable + Storage Plant Integration (Solar+Storage, Wind+Storage) (EUAEAEAE), Solar PV Power Plant EPC (Utility-Scale) (EUAEAAAG), Electrical Balance-of-Plant EPC (MV Collection, Cabling, Earthing, Lighting) (EUAEADAB)

Keywords

• Green hydrogen production
• Solar fuel systems
• Photoelectrochemical technology
• Renewable energy equipment
• Decentralized power generation

Headquarters

HQ city

Ecublens

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hydrogen and Power as a Service: The company offers turn-key renewable hydrogen and power generation systems (Arbs) along with ongoing service and maintenance over the system's lifetime. Revenue is generated through system sales and potentially long-term service contracts covering the 25-year operational lifetime of deployed units.
2. Turn-key Project Sales: SoHHytec Develops, Builds, and Operates Forests and Gardens of Arbs for industrial and commercial clients, selling complete hydrogen and power generation systems customized to customer specifications and site requirements.
3. Hydrogen and Power as a Service (Operating Model): Beyond turn-key projects, the company offers hydrogen and power as a service, providing ongoing generation capacity with full service and maintenance throughout the system's lifetime, allowing customers to avoid capital expenditure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SoHHytec designs, manufactures and sells the Arb system — an automated, scalable 'artificial tree' that focuses sunlight onto its patented Integrated Photo-Electrochemical Device (IPEC) to convert only solar energy and water into hydrogen, oxygen, electricity and usable heat simultaneously on the same site. The company delivers these systems as turn-key 'gardens' or 'forests' of Arb units customized to each customer's hydrogen/oxygen/electricity/heat demand, with optional lifetime service and operating coverage under a Hydrogen and Power as a Service model.

Product overview

SoHHytec offers a portfolio of renewable hydrogen and electricity generation products based on its proprietary Integrated Photo-Electrochemical Device (IPEC) technology. The core product is the Arb system, an artificial tree that uses concentrated solar energy to produce hydrogen, oxygen, electricity, and heat simultaneously. The Arb comes in three sizes (9m, 13m, 25m) and can be deployed as gardens/forests of multiple units. The portfolio also includes the Electrical Arb for focused electricity and heat co-generation, and the Reversible Arb (in development) which adds two-way generation capability enabling both hydrogen production and on-site electricity generation from stored hydrogen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arb System (Artificial Tree) Fully automated, self-sustainable renewable system that uses a solar parabolic dish to concentrate sunlight onto the patented IPEC device, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen and co-generating electricity and heat. Available in three sizes: 9m Arb (20 kWp, up to 10 kg/day H2), 13m Arb (40 kWp, up to 20 kg/day H2) and 25m Arb (160 kWp, up to 80 kg/day H2). Lifetime of 25+ years with minimal maintenance. Sold turn-key as 'gardens' or 'forests' of units to industrial clients for on-site green hydrogen and power generation.
• Electrical Arb Variant of the Arb technology focused on electricity and heat co-generation using the same concentration technology. Achieves >36% solar-to-electricity efficiency with minimal land usage and can be deployed standalone or integrated with other products in the portfolio. Targeted at commercial buildings, microgrids and customers that need on-site power and heat without hydrogen.
• Reversible Arb (in development) Next-generation Arb that can generate solar hydrogen when required and also convert stored hydrogen back to electricity on-site without extra components. Developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA); designed for use cases that need both hydrogen production and reversible hydrogen-to-power conversion (e.g., space, remote microgrids).
• Hydrogen and Power as a Service Service offering in which SoHHytec provides ongoing hydrogen and/or electricity generation capacity using Arb hardware, including full system service and maintenance over the 25-year operational lifetime of the deployed units. Lets industrial customers avoid capex while obtaining on-site green hydrogen and power on a contracted basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24.4% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in industrial pilot (vs. ~17.12% lab-scale prototype)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TKIL IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024TKIL Industries made a strategic investment in Switzerland-based SoHHytec SA and serves as its exclusive partner in India for green hydrogen solutions. The collaboration aims to accelerate green hydrogen production in India, supporting the country's clean energy goals and industrial applications. TKIL Industries brings local manufacturing capabilities and market access to the partnership.
• EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreTechnology or IntegrationSoHHytec originated from EPFL's Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering after over 10 years of intensive R&D. The company maintains its headquarters at EPFL Innovation Park. Key technology publications include Tembhurne et al., Nature Energy 2019 and Isaac Holmes, Tembhurne, et al., Nature Energy 2022. Co-founder Prof. Sophia Haussener serves as Chief Scientific Advisor.
• European Space Agency (ESA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with ESA on the development of the Reversible Arb — a next-generation system that can generate solar hydrogen and also convert hydrogen back to electricity on-site without additional components. This project leverages the inherent advantages of the Arb platform for potential space applications.
• ENOWA / NEOMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerENOWA (NEOM's energy and water company) partnered with Monaco Hydrogen Alliance to award SoHHytec the BEST EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION award at the Monaco Hydrogen Forum. While not a formal commercial partnership, this relationship indicates mutual interest in advancing green hydrogen technologies for NEOM's sustainable city development.
• NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia's largest power utility company listed as a partner on SoHHytec's website, suggesting exploration of green hydrogen integration opportunities within India's power sector and clean energy transition goals.
• EuroguarcominorOthersListed as a partner on SoHHytec's website, suggesting a commercial or industrial collaboration relationship.
• European Energy & Sustainability Academy (EESA)minorOthersListed as a partner on SoHHytec's website, indicating a research or academic collaboration relationship in the energy and sustainability domain.
• Goonvean FibersminorOthersListed as a partner on SoHHytec's website, suggesting a commercial or supply chain collaboration relationship.
• FundaseminorOthersListed as a partner on SoHHytec's website, potentially representing a funding or startup acceleration support relationship.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Heliogen: US-based developer of concentrated solar technology for industrial process heat and renewable fuels. Directly comparable to SoHHytec in using concentrated sunlight as the primary energy input and pursuing industrial decarbonization, though focused on heat/fuel applications rather than integrated hydrogen + power co-generation.
• Enapter: Germany-based manufacturer of modular AEM electrolyzers for green hydrogen production. Comparable in targeting distributed, small-to-medium scale hydrogen deployments with a hardware-plus-service model, though it uses standard electricity input rather than concentrated solar.
• Sunfire: Germany-based developer of solid-oxide and alkaline electrolyzers, including co-electrolysis for synthetic fuels. Comparable in pursuing integrated renewable-to-fuel pathways and targeting industrial decarbonization, with technology at a more advanced commercial stage.
• Ohmium International: India-focused PEM electrolyzer company serving industrial green hydrogen customers. Comparable in targeting distributed industrial hydrogen with modular systems and overlapping with SoHHytec's India channel focus via TKIL, though using electricity rather than concentrated solar as input.

Broad incumbents

• Nel ASA: Norwegian global leader in alkaline and PEM electrolyzers for green hydrogen. Directly competes in industrial hydrogen production and benefits from far greater scale and capital, making it the primary incumbent threat to SoHHytec's customer pipeline.
• ITM Power: UK-listed PEM electrolyzer manufacturer serving industrial hydrogen markets across Europe. Comparable customer base (industrial hydrogen offtakers) and overlapping geographic focus, but with a standard PV + electrolyzer stack architecture.
• Plug Power: US-based broad hydrogen platform covering production, liquefaction, and fuel cells. Comparable in serving industrial hydrogen end-users with end-to-end solutions, but vastly larger and focused on fuel cell mobility rather than on-site solar hydrogen production.
• John Cockerill: Belgium-based engineering group with a growing hydrogen electrolyzer business targeting industrial-scale green hydrogen. Comparable in EPC-style project delivery to industrial clients, but with deep corporate resources and conventional electrolyzer technology.
• Cummins (Accelera): Cummins' zero-emissions business unit producing electrolyzers and fuel cell systems for industrial hydrogen. Comparable in targeting industrial hydrogen offtake and benefitting from a large industrial OEM parent, but using conventional electrolyzer architectures.

Emerging players

• Coval Energy: US-based startup developing direct solar-to-fuel and chemical conversion technologies. Closest technology analog to SoHHytec's integrated photo-electrochemical approach — both pursue direct sunlight-to-chemical conversion rather than the conventional PV + electrolyzer paradigm.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sohhytec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sohhytec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SoHHytec