Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 day ago
Petra Power targets data centers and defense vehicles with fuel cells
Petra Power, a small company founded in 2017, makes solid oxide fuel cells that turn fuels such as natural gas into electricity without burning them.
It is targeting data centers, which need growing amounts of power as artificial intelligence expands, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
The company says its cells could use less fuel and produce fewer emissions than conventional power sources, while taking up less space.
Petra is speaking with data center infrastructure providers, but it has no firm agreements with the largest data center operators.
Its fuel cells are also being tested for use as auxiliary power in military land vehicles, but have not yet been used on a live vehicle.
Petra says it has received nearly $9 million in Defense Department contracts.
It is aiming for first deployments with customers in 2028 and hopes to reach full-scale production in 2029.
Petra Power is targeting data centers and Defense Department vehicles with its solid oxide fuel cells.
Founder Aaron Goodman said the cells convert fuels such as natural gas into electricity without burning them.
Petra is working with neoclouds and other infrastructure providers, but has no firm agreements with hyperscalers.
The company’s cells are being tested for auxiliary power on land vehicles and have not yet been deployed on a live vehicle.
Petra has received nearly $9 million in Defense Department contracts, and aims for first customer deployments in 2028.
Goodman said Petra hopes to begin full-scale production in 2029.
- Who
- Petra Power, a fuel-cell company founded by Aaron Goodman.
- What
- It is developing solid oxide fuel cells for data centers and auxiliary power on Defense Department land vehicles.
- When
- Petra is targeting first deployments with customers in 2028 and hopes for full-scale production in 2029.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The company says its fuel cells can reduce fuel costs and emissions and use less space than traditional power sources.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hyperscalers are an ICP [ideal customer profile] for us, and we talk a lot to them, but we don’t have anything firm with them yet
Combustion takes fuel and creates explosions
Petra Power was founded.
Petra Power was selected for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200.
Petra is targeting first deployments with customers.
Petra hopes to reach full-scale production.
- Founded
- 2017
- Team size
- About 15 people
- Defense Department contracts
- Nearly $9 million
- First deployments target
- 2028
- Full-scale production target
- 2029






