As the global energy landscape pivots toward cleaner, low-carbon alternatives, the role of advanced gas storage technologies has never been more critical. At the heart of this transformation is KonveGas, a company redefining how CNG and hydrogen are stored through sustainability-driven composite cylinder technology. In this interview, Sanjay Jadhav, Editor, Machine Edge Global, speaks with Alexander Enulescu, Founder of KonveGas, about the philosophy behind building what he calls the “greenest vessel for the greenest energy,” the growing importance of Type IV cylinders in mobility and industrial applications, and KonveGas’ plans as it prepares to enter the rapidly evolving Indian market. The conversation offers insights into safety, standards, localization, and how advanced storage solutions can become a strategic enabler of the clean energy transition.
KonveGas has positioned itself at the forefront of advanced gas storage solutions. What inspired the founding of the company, and how has your original vision evolved over the years?
KonveGas was founded around the belief that if the goal is renewable and low-carbon energy, then the hardware enabling that energy must also be designed for low emissions. Otherwise, emissions are simply shifted from the tailpipe to the supply chain. From the beginning, our vision has been to provide what we call the “Greenest Vessel” for the “Greenest Energy,” by placing raw material strategy and lifecycle CO₂ impact at the centre of composite cylinder technology.
Over time, this vision has evolved into a more holistic approach that aligns materials, manufacturing, logistics, service life, and end-of-life planning with the same low-carbon logic as the fuels the cylinders are meant to enable.
Type 4 CNG and hydrogen cylinders are increasingly critical to the clean energy transition. From your perspective, what makes these technologies a game-changer for mobility and industrial applications?
Type IV composite cylinders enable lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and high-performance storage solutions that support improved operational efficiency, payload utilisation, and system flexibility.
Their high strain tolerance, energy absorption, and damage containment provide robust durability under harsh field conditions, while advanced fatigue behaviour supports long-term pressure cycling.
For both mobility and stationary storage, including hydrogen cascade and modular systems, composite technology enables scalable, standards-compliant storage that aligns performance, safety, and reduced lifecycle CO₂ impact.
Safety and reliability are non-negotiable in gas storage. How does KonveGas ensure the highest safety standards while working with high-pressure CNG and hydrogen systems?
KonveGas designs and tests its Type IV cylinders in accordance with internationally recognized standards, including ECE R110, ISO 11119-3, and EN 12245.
These standards mandate extensive qualification testing such as burst pressure, cyclic fatigue, impact resistance, fire exposure, and environmental testing covering temperature cycling, humidity, chemical exposure, and vibration.
The cylinders are certified for a 20-year service life based on conservative design choices, robust structural layout, and extended pressure cycling validation.
All production is supported by controlled manufacturing, strict quality assurance, and stable, repeatable process control to ensure consistent safety margins beyond normal operating conditions.
Hydrogen is gaining strong momentum globally. How do you see the hydrogen economy evolving over the next decade, and what role will advanced storage solutions play in its adoption?
Hydrogen storage represents the next major wave after clean mobility and the CNG transition. While it is currently more project-based and infrastructure-led, there is clear momentum, supported by longer development and approval cycles.
Advanced composite storage will be a critical enabler of decentralized, low-carbon energy systems, supporting both mobility and stationary hydrogen storage through cascade and modular systems.
Over the next 10–15 years, continued advances in materials, manufacturing and standards are expected to drive wider adoption of composite storage across emerging clean fuel ecosystems.
You are now preparing to enter the Indian market. What attracted KonveGas to India, and how do you assess the country’s readiness for advanced CNG and hydrogen storage solutions?
India represents a high-growth market with significant long-term potential, driven by both scale and a clear strategic direction toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
The country is making substantial investments in renewable energy, alternative fuels, and reduced dependency on external energy sources.
This transition aligns well with our belief that future energy systems must combine performance, sustainability, and local value creation.
India’s development path and policy direction are both forward-looking and pragmatic, creating a strong foundation for modern storage technologies.
India is witnessing rapid growth in alternative fuels, especially CNG, hydrogen, and clean mobility. Which sectors in India do you see as the biggest opportunities for KonveGas?
The strongest near-term growth is expected from clean mobility and the CNG transition, particularly where biomethane and CNG are being used to reduce emissions quickly using existing vehicles and infrastructure.
Hydrogen storage is expected to follow as the next major wave, driven by infrastructure-led projects.
Industrial gas applications are relevant in selective use cases where weight, handling, and safety drive value.
Do you plan to manufacture locally in India or collaborate with Indian partners? How important is localization to your long-term strategy in the region?
Localization is a core part of KonveGas’ scalability roadmap.
We are moving toward a “local assembly” approach in key markets like India, combining Swedish engineering, validated process control, and training with local production partnerships.
This shortens lead times, reduces logistics emissions, improves supply security, and keeps the technology cost-competitive without compromising safety or performance.
Our material strategy is designed to work with regionally available inputs and multiple qualified sources to avoid dependency on long, emissions-heavy transport routes.
How does KonveGas plan to differentiate itself in a competitive Indian market where cost sensitivity and scale are critical factors?
KonveGas differentiates itself through a combination of low-carbon material strategy, scalable manufacturing, and long-term lifecycle value.
By focusing on regionally available, naturally abundant, non-fossil raw materials and avoiding long import routes, we reduce both emissions and supply-chain risk while supporting cost stability.
Our modular manufacturing model enables capacity to scale through standardized production cells while maintaining consistent quality and safety.
From a long-term perspective, storage technology should be evaluated as a strategic asset, with value driven by service life, operational efficiency, reliability and reduced lifecycle CO₂ exposure, rather than upfront price alone.
As a European company with global ambitions, how do international standards and certifications influence your approach to new markets like India?
International standards such as ECE R110, ISO 11119-3, and EN 12245 guide our design and testing processes.
These standards define strict requirements for structural integrity, safety, fatigue resistance, and environmental performance.
By meeting these rigorous requirements, KonveGas delivers a consistent safety and performance level across markets, including demanding operating conditions in regions like India.
Alignment with global standards also supports predictable risk management, regulatory compliance, and long-term performance assurance.
Looking ahead, what are the key milestones you want KonveGas to achieve in the next five years, both globally and in India?
Over the next five years, our primary focus will be on strengthening our core markets, with particular emphasis on our home market and India.
In India, our priority is to localize manufacturing and integration, working closely with OEMs, system integrators and local partners. Key milestones include industrialization of our technology, alignment with Indian regulatory requirements, and supporting the rapid growth of CNG, biogas and hydrogen infrastructure through locally produced composite cylinders.
Rather than expanding broadly into many regions at once, our strategy is to build depth, volume and long-term partnerships in selected markets. By doing so, we can ensure quality, scalability and sustainable growth, while contributing meaningfully to the energy transition in India and our core markets.