The pair were awarded $2m from the state to develop trailers equipped with cryo-compressed storage technologies to improve distribution economics.

The systems will be aimed at supporting hydrogen deliveries for small- to mid-sized warehouse and distribution centre customers in New York.

Plug has long been both a fuel cell technology and hydrogen supplier for warehouse logistics applications, having deployed fuel cell forklifts with the likes of Amazon and Walmart.

Verne, which was founded in 2020, claims its cryo-compressed systems can achieve 27% greater hydrogen storage density than compressed hydrogen gas. The technology works by compressing liquid hydrogen to pressures of less than 400 bar, which Verne said can avoid boil-off losses.

Hydrogen storage and distribution is increasingly viewed as critical area for innovation, with existing systems adding large costs to delivered molecule prices. A 2025 Harvard paper said that these costs can increase the pump price of grey hydrogen in California by a factor of 10.

“We look forward to partnering with Verne and NYSERDA on this project that will advance hydrogen distribution technology and make clean energy solutions more accessible to New York businesses,” Plug CEO Andy Marsh said.

The funding comes from an $11m New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) package that aims to support clean fuel projects.

Alongside Plug and Verne, GTI Energy was awarded over $220,000 to evaluate underground hydrogen storage; $2m went to National Grid Ventures to install a hydrogen linear generator at its Northport Power Plant; Stony Brook University secured $4.9m to develop a low-pressure hydrogen storage system at Staten Island University Hospital; and Switch Maritime grabbed $2m to develop and demonstrate a fuel cell ferry.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state’s investments in hydrogen were helping to contribute to the state’s energy system.