)
Adelaide-based space exploration company Fleet Space has partnered with billionaire-backed natural hydrogen explorer Koloma to accelerate the US company’s plans to find scalable resources of the green-energy gas globally.
Fleet Space, which completed a $150 million Series D capital raising last December valuing the company at $800 million, will use its artificial intelligence-driven exploration platform ExoSphere to generate three-dimensional subsurface imaging for Koloma of prospective hydrogen-forming geological formations.
The partnership, part of an expansion by Koloma into the Australian market announced last week, is aimed at accelerating the exploration and development of natural hydrogen which is seen as a viable source of zero-carbon energy.
Koloma, which is backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, was founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Pete Johnson, former Nascar driver Paul Harraka and earth sciences professor Dr Tom Darrah.
The company has developed a data-driven exploration approach that combines advanced data analytics tools and proprietary data to identify and commercialise hydrogen reserves.
After demonstrating significant hydrogen reserves in the US, the Denver-based company aims to transform hydrogen into a primary energy resource by enabling large-scale hydrogen production.
“Koloma’s data-driven expertise in geologic hydrogen plus the real-time 3D imaging of Fleet Space’s ExoSphere platform will enhance the scale and speed of our exploration programs, while also furthering our commitment to environmental preservation,” says Darrah, Koloma’s chief technology officer.
“This collaboration opens a powerful new chapter for Earth’s clean energy future and a bold step for hydrogen’s development as a scalable and sustainable energy source.”
Fleet Space’s ExoSphere platform integrates proprietary satellites in low-earth orbit, smart sensors and AI to streamline the acquisition, processing and integration of exploration datasets. The platform has the ability to deliver high-quality targeting insights in just days while minimising environmental impact.
“Fleet Space joining forces with Koloma represents the kind of industry partnerships needed to address the urgent demand for clean energy alternatives,” says Flavia Tata Nardini, the co-founder and CEO of Fleet Space.
“With the latest advances in hyper-scalable, data-driven, end-to-end exploration technologies powered by space and AI, leaders working to build the foundation for Earth’s energy transition will have the next-gen tools to accelerate their path to discovery, while minimising environmental impact.”
The partnership follows a US$23.8 million ($37.4 million) capital raising announced last week by Koloma to launch its Australian subsidiary, marking the first of several international exploration efforts and partnerships proposed by the company outside of the US.
“Koloma’s international expansion is a significant step for our company as we work to unlock natural hydrogen resources in the most promising places across the planet,” says Johnson, the Koloma CEO.
With 20 per cent of all hydrogen projects announced globally, Australia has one of the world’s largest pipelines of hydrogen projects.
“As a new primary energy source, natural hydrogen can secure carbon-free energy independence for decades to come in many regions of the world,” says Johnson.
“Australia holds significant promise for natural hydrogen, and we are excited to be a part of the effort there, building partnerships, creating jobs, and hopefully making big discoveries.”
While there are large quantities of natural hydrogen in Earth’s crust, the challenge for geologists has been where to find it in large enough volumes to make the resource viable to extract.
Fleet Space has become a major player in the field of minerals exploration through its advanced 3D subsurface imaging and AI analysis tools.
Over the past year, the company has expanded its global footprint to the US, Canada, Chile, and Luxembourg, with more than 130 employees worldwide supporting the vision of its founders – Tata Nardini, who is a former propulsion engineer at the European Space Agency, and Matt Pearson, an aerospace entrepreneur.
The company’s recent $150 million Series D capital raising, which was led by Blackbird Ventures, is being applied to expand the capabilities of the ExoSphere platform.
)
