Boosting Hydrogen Transition: Crosstown Receives CHF 3 Million to Fuel Away from Fossil Fuel Reliance
In the heart of Europe, Swiss DeepTech startup Crosstown is making waves with its groundbreaking H2R Burner technology. Co-founded by Manoj Harasgama, who has a successful track record in entrepreneurship, and Prith Harasgama, an industry veteran with over 35 years of experience in the gas turbine sector, Crosstown is pioneering a solution to a pressing challenge: transitioning Europe's gas turbine infrastructure away from fossil fuels while preserving investments.
The H2R Burner enables gas turbines to operate on 100% renewable fuels, such as hydrogen, and achieve significant reductions in CO2 emissions. By retrofitting existing gas turbines instead of requiring costly full replacements, Crosstown's technology offers a faster, more economical pathway for turbine operators to comply with tightening environmental regulations and decarbonize their assets.
Key features of the H2R Burner include fuel flexibility, a multi-injector design, and additive manufacturing, which enhances combustion efficiency and emission control. The burner can run on the full spectrum from 100% natural gas to 100% renewable hydrogen and other zero-carbon fuels, enabling a gradual or immediate transition to zero-carbon operation.
The H2R Burner also significantly reduces CO2 emissions and cuts harmful NOx emissions by up to 80%. For example, retrofitting a single 100MW turbine with this technology can cut over 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. The burner is a modular, upgradeable system that allows gas turbines to operate on various fuel blends, including natural gas, hydrogen, or cracked ammonia.
Crosstown's technology is protected by a new European patent and has more patents in progress. The company is forging new partnerships with Independent Service Providers and Original Equipment Manufacturers, and over $5 million has been invested in Crosstown's mission so far. Prith Harasgama plays a key role in developing Crosstown's zero-carbon burner technology and leads the company as co-CEO, bringing together leading experts on the Crosstown H2R team.
The Crosstown team is diverse, representing nearly as many nationalities as its members, all with global academic and professional experience. The ambition is to retrofit thousands of turbines worldwide, unlocking massive CO2 reduction potential while ensuring grid stability and energy independence for decades to come.
With fresh seed funding of CHF 3 million from investors including 2100Ventures, Climate Insiders, Unruly Capital, SDAC, CiRi, Voyagers, and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Crosstown is well-positioned to scale its technology and become the leading independent burner technology provider. The H2R Burner is 'brand agnostic', meaning it can be installed into the gas turbines of all major gas turbine manufacturers, making it a transformative solution for the industry's decarbonization efforts.
Science and technology converge in the innovative H2R Burner developed by Crosstown, a Swiss DeepTech startup. This environmental-science breakthrough offers a route for gas turbine operators to transition towards renewable energy sources, combat climate-change, and adhere to strict environmental regulations.
