Spark Cleantech

What Spark Cleantech does

Spark Cleantech is a French deeptech company founded in 2022 that has developed a proprietary nanopulsed plasma methane plasmolysis technology to convert methane into clean hydrogen and high-purity solid carbon before combustion occurs. Each modular, plug-and-play production unit is designed to be installed on-site at industrial facilities and produce up to 25 tons of hydrogen per day, with the solid carbon captured and sold as a high-value material rather than emitted as CO2. The technology requires five times less electricity than water electrolysis and achieves up to 85% emissions reduction relative to fossil-fuel combustion in high-temperature processes.

The company targets hard-to-abate heavy industries (metallurgy, cement, glass, chemical, and automotive) under a clean-energy-as-a-service model in which Spark designs, finances, installs, and operates on-site units under multi-year contracts. Revenue is generated through two streams: hydrogen sold at cost parity with fossil gas, and high-purity solid carbon nanomaterials sold to battery, polymer, tire, rubber goods, coatings, and plastics manufacturers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the dual-product economics are intended to make decarbonization financially viable without subsidies or carbon pricing.

Spark originated from CentraleSupélec research and is led by co-founders Patrick Peters (CEO) and Erwan Pannier (co-founder), supported by a 22-person team as of 2025 across plasma science, engineering, operations, and sales. In December 2025, the company closed a €30 million Series A round (€17 million equity) led by 360 Capital and Taranis, with participation from the Île-de-France Reindustrialisation Fund and Asterion Ventures. The company plans to hire approximately 20 additional employees across Labs, Product, and Industrial Operations, with first commercial deliveries scheduled for 2027, following the deployment of its first industrial pilot in 2024.

Name

Spark Cleantech

Legal name

Spark Cleantech

Website

https://spark-cleantech.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spark Cleantech is a French deeptech company developing patented nanopulsed plasma methane plasmolysis technology that converts methane into clean hydrogen and solid carbon on-site for heavy industry customers in metallurgy, cement, glass, chemical, and automotive sectors under a clean-energy-as-a-service model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Decarbonization Services

NAICS

Industrial Gas Manufacturing (325120), Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB)

Keywords

• Methane plasmolysis technology
• Clean hydrogen production
• Industrial decarbonization solutions
• Solid carbon materials
• Heavy industry emissions

Headquarters

HQ city

Gif-sur-yvette

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Clean Hydrogen Sales: On-site hydrogen production sold to industrial clients at cost parity with fossil gas. The clean-energy-as-a-service model delivers hydrogen without disrupting existing infrastructure. Hydrogen replaces fossil gas for industrial process heat in metallurgy, cement, glass, chemical, and automotive industries.
2. Solid Carbon Nanomaterial Sales: High-value solid carbon produced through methane plasmolysis is sold for use in batteries, polymers, tires, mechanical rubber goods, metallurgy, coating, plastics, inks, and food containment. The sale of solid carbon further lowers hydrogen costs, turning decarbonization into a profit driver.
3. Clean Energy as a Service: On-site production units supplied to industrial clients through a service model. Spark handles all logistics and carbon management, allowing hydrogen clients to focus on operations without the hassle of supply chain management or costly retrofits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Spark Cleantech designs and operates modular, plug-and-play on-site hydrogen production units that use its proprietary nanopulsed plasma methane plasmolysis technology to convert methane into clean hydrogen (a direct substitute for fossil gas in industrial process heat) and high-value solid carbon materials. Through a clean-energy-as-a-service model, the company signs long-term contracts with heavy industry operators in metallurgy, cement, glass, chemical, and automotive sectors, while selling the solid carbon byproduct to battery, polymer, rubber, and coating industries to further subsidize hydrogen economics.

Product overview

Spark Cleantech offers a unified solution based on its proprietary Nanopulsed Plasma Technology (Methane Plasmalysis) for industrial decarbonization. The core offering consists of on-site modular hydrogen production units that convert methane into clean-burning hydrogen and solid carbon materials. These plug-and-play units eliminate carbon emissions by capturing carbon before combustion and transforming it into high-value solid materials. The company sells both the hydrogen (as a direct substitute for natural gas in industrial furnaces) and the solid carbon byproduct (for use in batteries, polymers, and industrial materials), enabling heavy industries to decarbonize while remaining economically competitive. The portfolio targets sectors representing 10% of global CO2 emissions including metallurgy, cement, glass, chemical, and automotive industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• On-Site Hydrogen Production Units (Clean-Energy-as-a-Service) Modular, plug-and-play hydrogen production units installed and operated directly on industrial client sites under long-term clean-energy-as-a-service contracts. Each unit produces up to 25 tons of clean hydrogen per day from methane, replacing fossil gas for high-temperature process heat in metallurgy, cement, glass, chemical, and automotive industries with zero CO2 process emissions. Spark handles design, financing, installation, operations, and carbon management.
• Solid Carbon Nanomaterials High-purity solid carbon nanomaterial produced without combustion as a byproduct of methane plasmolysis, with high conductivity suitable for batteries, composites, mechanical rubber goods, tires, metallurgy, coatings, plastics, inks, and food containment applications. Sold to industrial buyers to further subsidize hydrogen economics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% emission reduction compared to traditional fossil fuel combustion in high-temperature industrial processes
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and minor.

• CNRSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). Listed as a partner providing scientific collaboration and research support for the deeptech startup.
• SATT Paris-SaclaysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology Transfer Company (Société d'Acceleration de Transfert de Technologie) of the Paris-Saclay university and research ecosystem. Supports technology transfer from research institutions including CentraleSupélec.
• France HydrogènesupportingOthersFrench hydrogen industry association bringing together companies, research institutions, and public organizations working on hydrogen technologies in France. Supports ecosystem development and networking.
• Club Hydrogène Île-de-FranceminorOthersRegional hydrogen cluster in Île-de-France promoting hydrogen technologies and collaboration among regional stakeholders.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Monolith Materials: US-based developer of methane pyrolysis technology producing clean hydrogen and carbon black. Closest direct competitor to Spark — uses the same methane-to-hydrogen-and-solid-carbon chemistry but via thermal (not plasma) process — and competes for the same end markets in tires, batteries, and industrial materials.
• Hazer Group: Australia-listed company commercializing catalytic methane pyrolysis ('Hazer Process') to produce low-emission hydrogen and synthetic graphite. Directly comparable technology pathway to Spark's plasmolysis, targeting hydrogen and a high-value solid carbon product for industrial applications.
• C-Zero: US-based startup developing thermal methane pyrolysis for clean hydrogen production with solid carbon as a byproduct. Shares Spark's core chemistry (CH4 → H2 + C) and decarbonization thesis, making it a direct emerging competitor in low-carbon industrial hydrogen.

Broad incumbents

• Linde plc: Global industrial gases leader producing and distributing hydrogen to industrial customers worldwide. Broad incumbent with deep customer relationships in metallurgy, chemicals, and glass — the exact verticals Spark targets — and well-capitalized to bundle clean hydrogen offerings, even though its production is currently dominated by SMR rather than plasmolysis.
• Air Liquide: Major industrial gases company with large-scale hydrogen production, pipeline supply, and on-site generation services for heavy industry customers. As a broad incumbent in the same end markets as Spark, it represents an existing supply relationship Spark must displace or partner with at heavy-industry sites.
• Cabot Corporation: Global incumbent manufacturer of carbon black and specialty carbons for tires, batteries, and industrial applications. Directly comparable as the established supplier in the solid carbon byproduct market that Spark must displace or supplement, particularly in tire and battery-grade carbon.

Emerging players

• ITM Power: UK-listed electrolyzer manufacturer targeting green hydrogen production for industrial decarbonization. Competes with Spark's plasmolysis-based hydrogen via the alternative electrolytic pathway, with overlap in industrial customers seeking clean hydrogen, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors.
• Nel ASA: Norwegian hydrogen technology company manufacturing alkaline and PEM electrolyzers for industrial-scale green hydrogen. Comparable to Spark as a clean hydrogen infrastructure provider targeting hard-to-abate industrial applications, though Nel relies on renewable electricity rather than methane plasmolysis.
• Sunfire GmbH: German deeptech company developing high-temperature electrolyzers and e-fuel technology for industrial decarbonization. Comparable to Spark as a European deeptech player pursuing alternative clean hydrogen and synfuel pathways for heavy industry, and competing for similar EU funding and industrial offtake customers.
• Stegra (formerly H2 Green Steel): Swedish green steel producer building large-scale hydrogen-based steelmaking. Direct demand-side comparator to Spark — a buyer of clean hydrogen for high-temperature industrial heat in metallurgy, the same vertical Spark targets, and a potential anchor customer or competitor for green industrial hydrogen supply.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spark-cleantech
• Xx.com/spark_cleantech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 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 Spark Cleantech