Pajarito Powder Appoints CEO to Accelerate Hydrogen Production

Pajarito Powder—the Albuquerque outfit that’s been turning heads with its advanced electrocatalysts for hydrogen production—tapped veteran fuel cell guru Christian Mohrdieck as its new CEO. You might recall Mohrdieck from his days at Mercedes-Benz, where he led major programs on fuel cell stacks, performance tweaks, and durability testing. He’s actually been on Pajarito Powder’s board since July 2020, just as investors worldwide began piling into green hydrogen. Now, with over $18 million in Department of Energy grants in hand and strategic backing from Hyundai Motor Group and Kia Corporation, this leadership shake-up signals one thing loud and clear: Pajarito Powder is set to go full throttle on commercializing high-performance catalysts and shoring up U.S. standing in the global clean energy race.

Nestled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pajarito Powder occupies a sweet spot in a region where big energy ideas are the norm—from nuclear research hubs at Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs to a fast-growing cleantech scene buzzing with solar, hydrogen, and zero-emission ventures. Back in December 2023, they cut the ribbon on a cutting-edge production facility and headquarters that bring research, product development, and full-scale manufacturing all under one roof. It’s a game-changer for speeding up design iterations, running pilot tests side by side with scale-up operations, and teaming up seamlessly with local national labs and industrial partners on joint R&D projects.

Strategic Leadership Shift

Having Mohrdieck step into the CEO role is more than just a title swap. His career has been built around pushing automotive hydrogen fuel cells forward, and that expertise aligns perfectly with Pajarito Powder’s next chapter: meeting surging demand for catalysts in both fuel cells and electrolysis systems. He’ll be spearheading business development, steering global sales expansion, and tightening supply chain oversight, all while fostering OEM collaborations. His global outlook—sharpened by years of international hydrogen partnerships—also means he’s primed to navigate shifting regulations, spot emerging market trends, and manage any material bottlenecks that pop up.

Financing and Market Position

Pajarito Powder’s rise so far has been fueled by a carefully balanced mix of venture capital, corporate partnerships, and public grants. Early backers like the Verge Fund, Bekaert, Omphalos Venture Partners, and Ecovyst Catalyst Technologies led a $4.5 million seed round that supercharged the company’s R&D and laid the technical foundations they’re building on today.

The recent B-3 funding round, featuring Hyundai Motor Group and Kia, underscores a shift toward upstream supply chain resilience—automakers aiming to lock down stable sources of critical catalyst materials for their next-gen fuel cell lines. On the public side, the U.S. Department of Energy stepped up with two grants totaling nearly $18.5 million: $8.45 million to scale production of electrolyzer catalysts, and just under $10 million to expand fuel cell catalyst manufacturing. These dollars are being plowed into boosting capacity at the Albuquerque facility, outfitting it with state-of-the-art equipment, and hiring top talent in advanced material synthesis and process engineering. It’s all part of a strategy to de-risk supply and ensure a steady material flow as the hydrogen landscape heats up.

Technology Portfolio

Pajarito Powder’s tech arsenal is designed to squeeze every ounce of performance out of precious metals, extend catalyst lifetimes, and bring down costs for operators of electrolyzers and hydrogen fuel cells. Whether it’s for transportation fleets, stationary power plants, or industrial-scale setups, their lineup addresses the durability and efficiency that real-world applications demand:

• Engineered Catalyst Supports with custom pore structures and high surface areas to make every active site count
• Platinum and platinum-alloy catalysts calibrated for peak reactivity in fuel cell stacks
• Iridium oxide OER catalysts tuned for efficient oxygen evolution in electrolyzer systems
• AEM electrolysis materials built tough for anion exchange membrane environments

By weaving these proprietary advances together, Pajarito Powder is tackling one of the biggest hurdles in broadening adoption of green hydrogen: lowering the total cost of ownership for end users.

Broader Industry Impact

• Reinforcing the hydrogen infrastructure by ensuring reliable domestic supplies of key catalyst components
• Reducing dependence on imported precious metals, whose price swings and supply risks have long haunted the market
• Supporting DOE-led hydrogen hubs and fueling networks for transportation and industrial clients
• Creating high-skill manufacturing and engineering jobs in New Mexico’s burgeoning cleantech sector
• Contributing to wider sustainable energy and industrial decarbonization efforts

Of course, scaling production in a sustainable way means keeping a close eye on sourcing practices for precious metals and pushing continuous process improvements to stay sharp on cost competitiveness.

Leadership Team

Christian’s arrival isn’t the only change at the top. Last year, Pajarito Powder brought on Michele Ostraat as Chief Operating Officer after her stint running big projects at the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. Together, they blend cutting-edge product development know-how with serious deployment and project management chops. Add in a strong CFO, CTO, and a bench of R&D leads, and you’ve got a leadership crew that’s primed for rapid, sustainable growth.

Looking Ahead

As the hydrogen economy pivots from pilot projects to full-scale commercial rollouts, Pajarito Powder is setting ambitious goals under Mohrdieck’s leadership. Over the next year, they plan to:

• Finalize process qualifications for both electrolyzer and fuel cell catalyst lines
• Boost production throughput at their Albuquerque plant
• Lock in long-term supply agreements with automakers, electrolyzer OEMs, and industrial gas companies
• Explore international partnerships to tap emerging markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific
• Track and adapt to evolving regulations, ensuring compliance and competitive edge

This leadership transition comes at a time when electrolysis, green hydrogen, and industrial decarbonization are top of mind for policy-makers and industry alike. With a vertically integrated R&D-to-manufacturing platform and a seasoned executive team, Pajarito Powder is well placed to drive down costs, boost catalyst performance, and push zero-emission tech into the mainstream.

About Pajarito Powder

Founded before 2023, Pajarito Powder is a venture-backed company out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, developing and manufacturing advanced electrocatalysts for fuel cells and electrolysis systems. Focused on performance, durability, and cost efficiency, they’re backed by Hyundai Motor Group, Kia Corporation, the Verge Fund, and the U.S. Department of Energy, all working together to power the future of sustainable energy.