Petra Power, founded in 2017, is commercializing solid oxide fuel cells that turn natural gas into electricity without burning it. Founder Aaron Goodman argues that traditional combustion involves many lossy steps—explosions, heat, motion, and electromotive force—whereas fuel cells strip electrons directly off the fuel, making the process far more efficient. The company markets the technology as a lower-cost, lower-emission alternative for data centers and large vehicles.
The startup is pursuing two customer groups: data centers and the Defense Department. For data centers, Petra is working with neoclouds and other infrastructure providers, though hyperscalers remain an ideal target rather than a firm customer. On the defense side, the fuel cells are meant to provide auxiliary power for land vehicles when the main engine is off, but they are still in testing and have not yet been deployed on a live vehicle.
Petra is a small team of about 15 people and has received nearly $9 million in defense contracts so far. The company aims for its first customer deployment in 2028 and full-scale production in 2029. It was also selected for this year's TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200, highlighting its early traction in the emerging market for efficient power generation.