Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MCD (Highly efficient and sustainable refrigeration based on solid state Magnetic Cooling Device)
Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-01-31
The cooling sector accounts for 10% of today’s global greenhouse gas emissions. With the current climate crisis, the demand for air conditioners and refrigerators is destined to increase, creating a vicious cycle. It is estimated that roughly 9 gigatons of CO2 equivalent will be emitted by the cooling sector if this does not undergo any significant changes. Some of the traditional refrigerants have also been linked with ozone-depletion, which intensifies the strength of UV light, and is harmful for life on this planet. It is pivotal to phase out these substances as quickly as possible.
At MAGNOTHERM we work towards the future of sustainable cooling, and together with the European Commission we want to develop green, non-explosive and reliable cooling devices.
Our project, MCD, focuses on the conception, development, and commercialization of Magnetocaloric Devices, which rely on permanent magnets, special magnetic materials, and water as a cooling fluid. Our devices eliminate the dependance on high-GWP gases such as R-134a, as well as unsafe and explosive gases like butane.
The materials that we use in our devices have a special thermodynamic property: they heat up when exposed to a magnetic field (they are subject to the magnetocaloric effect), and cool down once the field is removed. We can utilize this effect by magnetizing the material, removing the heat through water and a heat exchanger, then removing the magnet, to generate lower temperatures. By amplifying and repeating this effect using active magnet regenerators (AMRs), which are 3D-printed parts where the fluids are channeled, we can reach the ideal temperatures to preserve food and drinks, and potentially generate enough cooling power to be viable in the hydrogen liquefaction chain.
MAGNOTHERM intends to compete in the commercial refrigeration sector, proposing a plug-in display cabinet for the grocery stores and the beverage sector: we have collected some positive interest from market leaders and have partnered in a few pilot projects in the past year.
At MAGNOTHERM we work towards the future of sustainable cooling, and together with the European Commission we want to develop green, non-explosive and reliable cooling devices.
Our project, MCD, focuses on the conception, development, and commercialization of Magnetocaloric Devices, which rely on permanent magnets, special magnetic materials, and water as a cooling fluid. Our devices eliminate the dependance on high-GWP gases such as R-134a, as well as unsafe and explosive gases like butane.
The materials that we use in our devices have a special thermodynamic property: they heat up when exposed to a magnetic field (they are subject to the magnetocaloric effect), and cool down once the field is removed. We can utilize this effect by magnetizing the material, removing the heat through water and a heat exchanger, then removing the magnet, to generate lower temperatures. By amplifying and repeating this effect using active magnet regenerators (AMRs), which are 3D-printed parts where the fluids are channeled, we can reach the ideal temperatures to preserve food and drinks, and potentially generate enough cooling power to be viable in the hydrogen liquefaction chain.
MAGNOTHERM intends to compete in the commercial refrigeration sector, proposing a plug-in display cabinet for the grocery stores and the beverage sector: we have collected some positive interest from market leaders and have partnered in a few pilot projects in the past year.
MAGNOTHERM Solutions GmbH has developed groundbreaking eco-friendly cooling technologies under the EIC Accelerator framework. With a focus on sustainability and efficiency, the company’s innovations eliminate harmful refrigerants and reduce energy consumption, paving the way for a greener future.
Key Highlights:
• Achieved a 40% efficiency improvement in magnetocaloric devices.
• Introduced POLARIS and ECLIPSE prototypes for commercial and industrial use.
• Successfully introduced magnetic cooling into the market with certified magnetic cooling devices
• Proven the scalability and longevity of LaFeSi as magnetocaloric material.
• Secured partnerships with global corporations, advancing market adoption.
MAGNOTHERM’s efforts have established it as a leader in sustainable cooling, creating impactful solutions for a rapidly evolving global market.
Key Highlights:
• Achieved a 40% efficiency improvement in magnetocaloric devices.
• Introduced POLARIS and ECLIPSE prototypes for commercial and industrial use.
• Successfully introduced magnetic cooling into the market with certified magnetic cooling devices
• Proven the scalability and longevity of LaFeSi as magnetocaloric material.
• Secured partnerships with global corporations, advancing market adoption.
MAGNOTHERM’s efforts have established it as a leader in sustainable cooling, creating impactful solutions for a rapidly evolving global market.
Our key needs going forward are the following:
• IP protection – we have already been granted two patents in Europe, US and Asia, and we are currently filing for 3 new invention disclosures. It will be essential for us to develop a winning IP strategy quickly, given that the technology is still not ripe. Since a large portion of the business in this sector is currently in far-east Asia, we may need to rely on the support from foreign regulators to maintain ownership of our inventions and trade secrets.
• Funding and supply chain - the supply chain of materials represents a significant risk for MAGNOTHERM. In the past, our work has been severely impacted by the recent semiconductor shortage, and to move to a LaFeSi-based device we’ll need to select reliable partners. Our current supplier has been facing liquidity challenges, and the quality and quantity of the material sourced are suboptimal. We need to establish strong partnerships with multiple suppliers to mitigate this risk.
Another opportunity would arise if a large source of funding was available: we could start producing our material inhouse. We estimate that the production of LaFeSi internally would require an investment in machinery and facilities for 3-5 million euros, plus additional costs for raw material and personnel.
• Commercialization – we are constantly in contact with investors and strategic partners to promote our products and technology. Our partners appreciate our commitment to sustainability and our constant improvement in efficiency, but the journey is far from over. To be successful we will need to provide a device more efficient than traditional coolers and sell it for a competitive price.
• Regulatory framework – we rely on the policymaker to inform the public about the dangers of traditional refrigerants, and to promote directives to phase out the usage of said products. We believe that measures such as the European regulation on F-gases and the American Innovation and Manufacturing act of 2020 will be beneficial for the breakthrough of our technology.
• IP protection – we have already been granted two patents in Europe, US and Asia, and we are currently filing for 3 new invention disclosures. It will be essential for us to develop a winning IP strategy quickly, given that the technology is still not ripe. Since a large portion of the business in this sector is currently in far-east Asia, we may need to rely on the support from foreign regulators to maintain ownership of our inventions and trade secrets.
• Funding and supply chain - the supply chain of materials represents a significant risk for MAGNOTHERM. In the past, our work has been severely impacted by the recent semiconductor shortage, and to move to a LaFeSi-based device we’ll need to select reliable partners. Our current supplier has been facing liquidity challenges, and the quality and quantity of the material sourced are suboptimal. We need to establish strong partnerships with multiple suppliers to mitigate this risk.
Another opportunity would arise if a large source of funding was available: we could start producing our material inhouse. We estimate that the production of LaFeSi internally would require an investment in machinery and facilities for 3-5 million euros, plus additional costs for raw material and personnel.
• Commercialization – we are constantly in contact with investors and strategic partners to promote our products and technology. Our partners appreciate our commitment to sustainability and our constant improvement in efficiency, but the journey is far from over. To be successful we will need to provide a device more efficient than traditional coolers and sell it for a competitive price.
• Regulatory framework – we rely on the policymaker to inform the public about the dangers of traditional refrigerants, and to promote directives to phase out the usage of said products. We believe that measures such as the European regulation on F-gases and the American Innovation and Manufacturing act of 2020 will be beneficial for the breakthrough of our technology.