Reliable access to power, water, and communications in remote or high-risk settings remains a significant challenge – whether for defence forces, disaster responders, or those working in mining, construction and remote industrial sites.
In this blog post, we spoke to Erik Limpaecher, Chief Executive Officer at Edge, to learn how their technology could help teams on the front lines and in remote locations stay connected and powered.
What does your company do and what solution did you apply to DIANA with?
“At Edge, we build rapidly deployable, mobile infrastructure for environments where power, communications, and logistics are constrained or unavailable. Our systems are designed to operate without fixed infrastructure, fuel convoys, or reliable grids.
For the NATO DIANA programme, we applied with two complementary solutions powered by our metal-fuel platform: ØTower and Outpost Power.
ØTower is a self-sustaining, hydrogen-lifted aerial platform that provides persistent, elevated communications and sensing. It lifts lightweight payloads hundreds of meters above the ground to restore or extend coverage over wide areas.
Outpost Power is a modular ground-based power system that replaces diesel generators in remote locations, delivering continuous electrical power without fuel logistics or grid access.
Both systems are powered by our Moonshine Hydrogen™ technology, which generates hydrogen on demand from aluminium and water, enabling infrastructure to be deployed quickly and sustained locally.”
What problem does your solution solve?
“Many modern operations take place where infrastructure cannot be assumed. Communications towers take time to build and are vulnerable, drones cannot loiter for extended periods, and diesel generators depend on fragile fuel supply chains.
Edge addresses this by removing logistics as the limiting factor. ØTower provides persistent elevation for communications and sensing, while Outpost Power delivers reliable off-grid electricity for field operations. Together, they allow teams to operate for days to weeks without resupply.
This problem affects defence forces, disaster responders, and governments, as well as civilian operators in construction, mining, and remote industrial sites where fuel delivery, power stability, and communications reliability are persistent challenges.”
How did Edge get started?
“The core technology behind Edge was developed over five years at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where the founding team focused on metal-fuel hydrogen systems for field and expeditionary use. That work demonstrated a new way to think about hydrogen not as centralized infrastructure, but as a deployable logistics solution.
Edge was spun out with the underlying intellectual property from MIT and has spent the last two years engineering the technology into deployable, rugged systems like ØTower and Outpost Power. During that time, the focus has been on moving from laboratory concepts to operational hardware designed for real-world conditions.”
Was Edge already positioned as a dual-use company before DIANA? Why did you apply?
“Yes. Edge was built as a dual-use company from the outset.
On the defence side, our systems support communications, sensing, and power in contested or denied environments. On the civilian side, they enable off-grid power and connectivity for disaster response, remote construction, mining operations, and critical infrastructure projects where diesel logistics are costly or unreliable.
We applied to NATO DIANA because the program emphasizes real operational relevance and transition, not just demonstrations. DIANA connects us directly with defence users who understand the constraints of operating at the edge and can help accelerate adoption into real deployments.”
How does your tech differ from competitors?
“Many metal-fuel hydrogen systems rely on processed or powdered aluminium, which is classified as hazardous material, poses inhalation risks, or complicates transport and handling.
Edge’s approach is fundamentally different. Our second-generation fuel system does not require powdered aluminium, activation with precious metals, or complex machinery. It uses solid bulk aluminium and water to produce hydrogen on demand, avoiding the handling and transport risks associated with other metal fuels.
More broadly, competitors often focus on fuel or energy generation in isolation. Edge integrates fuel, power, lift, and communications into complete systems designed for field autonomy. This reduces logistical burden while increasing persistence and operational flexibility.”
What has been your biggest success or milestone during DIANA Phase 2?
“A major milestone has been advancing both ØTower and Outpost Power from validated concepts into systems ready for real-world deployment. Participation in DIANA has helped us sharpen our focus on NATO-relevant use cases, strengthen engagement with defence stakeholders, and move beyond pilots toward transition pathways.
DIANA has also reinforced the importance of treating energy and infrastructure as operational enablers, not supporting afterthoughts.”
What is next on the horizon for your company?
“Next, we are focused on expanded field deployments, multi-system integration, and broader adoption across defence and industrial sectors. We are also continuing to mature our metal-fuel reactors and vertically-integrated systems to support longer-duration operations and additional mission profiles across air, ground, and maritime domains.”