Elastocaloric COoling and HEAT-pumping

Project Information

E-CO-HEAT

Grant agreement ID: 101158362

DOI

10.3030/101158362

Project closed

EC signature date 29 March 2024

Start date 1 September 2024

End date 28 February 2026

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI
Slovenia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - E-CO-HEAT (Elastocaloric COoling and HEAT-pumping)

Reporting period: 2024-09-01 to 2026-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Context
Heating and cooling account for around 50% of EU energy consumption, making the sector a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its importance for achieving EU climate targets, decarbonisation has progressed slowly, with renewables covering only about 23% of demand. At the same time, global cooling demand is rapidly increasing and is expected to triple by 2050. Today, cooling and heat-pumping technologies rely almost entirely on vapor-compression systems. While mature, these systems face key limitations, including moderate efficiency and strong dependence on refrigerants with environmental and safety concerns. Even the transition to natural refrigerants introduces challenges such as high pressure, toxicity, or flammability. This creates a clear need for efficient, safe, and environmentally benign alternatives to conventional cooling and heating technologies.

Overall objectives
The E-CO-HEAT project builds on advances in elastocaloric (eC) technology (made within ERC StG SUPERCOOL project), a solid-state approach based on shape memory alloys that enables heating and cooling without harmful refrigerants. The main objective was to advance elastocaloric technology towards practical application by increasing its readiness level across key innovation dimensions. This included:
• improving the performance and reliability of an elastocaloric prototype,
• validating its performance
• developing an intellectual property strategy, and
• exploring pathways towards commercialization.

These activities targeted the main barriers preventing the transition of elastocaloric technology from research to application.

Expected impact
The project contributes to the development of a new generation of cooling and heat-pumping technologies with the potential to overcome key limitations of existing systems. Elastocaloric technology offers higher efficiency potential and eliminates the need for harmful refrigerants, supporting both energy savings and emissions reduction. In addition, its characteristics (e.g. low noise, improved safety) open opportunities in applications where conventional systems are less suitable, such as electric vehicles. By combining technological validation with IP development, the project strengthens the foundation for future commercialization and scaling of elastocaloric solutions.
Overall, E-CO-HEAT supports the transition towards more sustainable heating and cooling technologies and contributes to long-term climate and energy goals.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work initially focused on the optimization of the drive system and elastocaloric regenerator. The main achievement is the fine-tuning of the drive mechanism (e.g. with improved sliding system to reduce the frictional losses), which enabled a constant-torque operation at forces up to 40 kN with a work-recovery efficiency of 70%. This represents the highest work-recovery efficiency reported to date for any high-force elastocaloric device. The results were validated experimentally and very recently accepted for publication in Nature Communications journal. Importantly, a new methodology for evaluating work-recovery efficiency has been proposed and implemented within this work.
In parallel, an improved elastocaloric regenerator was designed, featuring longer and mechanically more stable tubes, combined with low thermal mass polymer housing to reduce thermal losses; and a novel hydraulic force amplifier (to reduce the force on the drive part of the system) has been designed. In addition, although not implemented experimentally, a numerical study and parametric optimization of layered tube-based elastocaloric regenerators (with different transformation temperatures along the length) has been performed (see Shiva Mohajerani et al 2026 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 34 025009).
The fine-tuned prototype is currently under testing. Initial results demonstrate promising performance, with a temperature span of ~20 K and cooling powers above 100 W.

Our work further focused on establishing a solid intellectual property position for the developed technology. A comprehensive patentability analysis was performed, confirming the novelty and protectability of key innovations. As a result, two patent applications have been submitted:
• DRIVING SYSTEM FOR MECHANOCALORIC HEATING OR COOLING APPARATUS (PCT Application No. PCT/EP2026/051802), covering an innovative constant-torque approach and related cam-disc design, crucial for efficient driving of elastocaloric devices;
• DRIVING SYSTEM FOR MECHANOCALORIC DEVICES (Patent Application No. LU604824 in Luxembourg), covering a complete drive system based on a constant-torque concept with an integrated hydraulic force amplifier.

Final part of the work addressed the preparation of the technology for further development and market entry. A comprehensive business plan has been developed, including market analysis, positioning, and initial financial projections. All formal requirements for establishing a spin-off company at the University of Ljubljana have been fulfilled, with the company planned to be launched in May 2026. In addition, preparations are ongoing for a follow-up EIC Transition proposal, with planned submission in October 2026, aiming to further scale and validate the technology.

Overall outcomes
The E-CO-HEAT project has delivered significant advancements in the mechanical efficiency and system design of elastocaloric technology, particularly through the demonstrated high work-recovery efficiency and improved regenerator concept.
The achieved results provide a strong technical and strategic foundation for further development, scaling, and validation under application-relevant conditions.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The E-CO-HEAT project has delivered several results that go beyond the current state of the art in elastocaloric and alternative cooling technologies, particularly in the area of high-force system efficiency and system integration. A key breakthrough is the implementation of new methodology and demonstration of a work-recovery efficiency of 70% at 40 kN, which represents the highest reported value for any high-force elastocaloric device to date. This result addresses one of the major bottlenecks in elastocaloric technology, namely the efficient handling and recovery of mechanical work, and significantly improves the feasibility of high-performance systems.

Importantly, these technological advances are reinforced by a strong and strategically positioned intellectual property portfolio. Two patent applications protect core enabling elements of elastocaloric systems, significantly strengthening the pathway towards commercialization.
Together, these results contribute to advancing elastocaloric technology from proof-of-principle towards application-oriented system design, positioning it as a credible alternative to vapor-compression systems.

Potential impact
The results of the project have the potential to contribute to a paradigm shift in cooling and heat-pumping technologies, by enabling systems that are both more efficient and environmentally benign. In particular, elastocaloric technology eliminates the need for harmful refrigerants and offers the potential for improved energy efficiency, reduced noise, and enhanced safety.

To ensure further uptake and successful translation towards market applications, several key steps are required:
• Further technical development and demonstration: Validation of the prototype under fully industry-relevant conditions (TRL 5-6) and scaling towards higher cooling/heating capacities.
• System optimization and integration: Continued improvement of regenerator performance, drive efficiency, and overall system compactness.
• Access to funding: Support through follow-up funding instruments (e.g. EIC Transition) to enable scaling, validation, and pre-commercial development.
• IPR protection and exploitation: Further strengthening and strategic management of the intellectual property portfolio to secure competitive advantage.
• Industrial collaboration and market access: Continued engagement with industrial partners, particularly in automotive and heat pump sectors, to align the technology with application requirements.

Overview of results
Overall, the E-CO-HEAT project has delivered key technological and strategic advancements, supported by a strong intellectual property position, that move elastocaloric technology beyond the current state of the art. The demonstrated high-efficiency drive system, improved regenerator design, promising prototype performance, and the filing of two patent applications protecting core enabling elements of the technology provide a strong foundation for further development, scaling, and future commercialization.
These results position elastocaloric technology as a high-potential candidate for next-generation cooling and heat-pumping applications, supporting long-term energy and climate objectives.