Heatrix
Replaces fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries by converting renewable electricity into storable, high-temperature process heat.
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Heatrix GmbH, established in 2021 by co-founders Dr.-Ing. Wei Wu and Dr.-Ing. Xiaobo Liu, is a German company positioning itself to decarbonize high-temperature industrial processes. The founders leverage their extensive backgrounds from the Institute for Energy and Process Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, focusing on high-temperature heat storage and conversion, which forms the technical foundation of the company. The company's core mission is to replace the fossil fuels traditionally used for generating process heat—which can account for over 70% of the energy demand in sectors like chemicals, cement, and steel—with a solution powered by renewable electricity.
Heatrix has developed a high-temperature energy storage system that converts renewable electricity into process heat exceeding 1,000°C. This technology is based on a proprietary structured solid-state heating element, which offers high-temperature resistance and a large surface area for efficient heat transfer. The system stores energy in refractory metals or ceramics, which are heated by electrical power when renewable energy is abundant and affordable. This stored thermal energy can then be discharged on demand to industrial clients, providing a stable and carbon-free heat source. The business model targets heavy industries that require constant high-temperature heat for their manufacturing processes, offering them a 'Heat-as-a-Service' solution. This model aims to reduce both carbon dioxide emissions and operating costs for its customers by shielding them from volatile natural gas prices.
The company has achieved significant milestones, including being a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich. In February 2024, Heatrix secured €6 million in seed funding in a round led by Extantia, with participation from other notable investors such as Planet A and UVC Partners. This capital injection is intended to facilitate the construction of a pilot plant to demonstrate the technology's effectiveness in an industrial setting and to expand the company's engineering team.
Keywords: industrial decarbonization, high-temperature heat, energy storage, process heat, Heat-as-a-Service, cleantech, renewable energy, thermal battery, carbon emissions reduction, industrial electrification