PuriFire Energy

PuriFire Energy is a Cambridge-based cleantech company developing novel hydrothermal technology to convert waste carbon and water feedstocks into green hydrogen and bio-methanol — two of the most critical fuels for decarbonising the shipping and chemicals industries. Founded in 2019, PuriFire's proprietary reactor system produces green hydrogen and biogenic CO2 on-site, which is then catalytically converted into renewable methanol — an approach the company believes will be game-changing for an industry where over 98% of the 110 million tonnes of methanol produced annually is currently derived from fossil fuels.

Unlike other green methanol production routes such as e-methanol and biomethanol, PuriFire's hydrothermal process is designed to address the high capital costs and energy intensity that have held back the sector. The company's technology can process a range of waste carbon and water feedstocks, and is currently being developed through partnerships and R&D collaborations across multiple industries. Its WoodVALOR project — a six-country, 11-partner consortium funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking — explores converting contaminated waste wood into high-value bio-based materials including phenolic coatings, fatty acids and biochar.

PuriFire has raised $4.88 million across three rounds from investors including Bulnes Capital, HICO Investment Group, the Repsol Foundation and R&R Investments, alongside grant support from Innovate UK. The company is a member of Third Derivative's Clean Fuels cohort and recently secured an 11,000 sq ft light industrial unit in Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, to scale its pilot operations.