Decarbonize Process Heat, Profitably.
We make a new kind of industrial heat pump: 550 °C, plug-and-play, and smart enough to run only when electricity is clean and cheap. Your existing gas boiler handles the rest.
Industrial Heat Is Stuck on Fossil Fuels
Industrial processes need heat that's reliable and available 24/7. Gas boilers deliver this. While resistance heating can reach extreme temperatures, it's inefficient. Standard heat pumps are efficient but limited to 120-150°C. That's why 90% of industrial heat still comes from fossil fuels, even as electricity grids get cleaner. We built a system that uses both gas and electricity, choosing the cheaper, cleaner option in real-time.
90%
Industrial heat from fossil fuels
150-550°C
Segment hard to electrify
The Industrial Heat Opportunity
Industrial process heat represents $1.2 trillion/year in global energy spend, with more than 3,000 TWh still served by fossil fuels in the 150–550°C range.
Electrifying even 10% of this would eliminate ~300 Mt of CO₂ annually, equal to the emissions of France.
$1.2T
Annual global energy spend
3,000 TWh
Fossil fuel heat (150-550°C)
300 Mt CO₂
Potential reduction (10% electrified)
Decarbonization Mandates Kick In This Decade
Thousands of industrial companies now have official CO₂ reduction targets. Most start hitting enforcement or compliance phases by 2030. That's why demand for decarbonized heat will surge this decade.
10,828
Total companies with targets or commitments
8,136
Companies with validated targets
1,857
Companies with net-zero targets
2,902
Companies with active commitments
Source: SBTi, June 13, 2025
Cheap Electricity Is Hiding in Plain Sight
Electricity prices aren't just volatile; they're unequal. In every European market, there are
thousands of hours each year when electricity is dramatically cheaper than average. This chart shows how many hours per year the price stays below a given threshold. In France in 2024, for example, power cost
less than €50/MWh for nearly 4,000 hours, about 45% of the year.
If your system can shift demand into those hours, you save money. Most can't. Our hybrid heat pump can.
2024 EU Price Duration Curves
Y-axis capped at €300/MWh for readability ( 34 rare points are above this level).
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Why This Chart Matters
This price duration curve reveals how much hidden value exists in the power market. Our system unlocks that value, automatically switching between gas and electricity to cut costs and carbon, hour by hour.
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Why most boilers can't respond, and ours can
Gas boilers can't participate in electricity markets or flexibility programs. They're stuck burning gas 24/7. But heat pumps can ramp up or down based on grid signals, capturing low prices and earning flexibility payments. That's why industrial users who shift from gas to electric heat pumps turn decarbonization into profit.
But capturing this opportunity requires a new kind of heat system, one that's cost-effective, dispatchable, and easy to deploy. That's exactly what we've built.
How It Works
We make a heat pump that reaches up to 550°C, delivered in shipping containers that connect to your steam network or heating equipment. The containers work alongside your existing gas boilers. When electricity is cheap and clean, the heat pump generates steam. When it's not, your gas boilers continue as normal. The system manages this automatically.
- Installs in a shipping container with no factory rework
- Connects directly to your steam lines
- Scales by adding containers as you expand electric capacity
The system switches based on:
Real-time electricity prices
💰
Grid flexibility incentives
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The Airthium Heat Engine
Ultra high temperatures
Reaches up to 550°C, more than any other heat pump
200°C temperature lift
Single-stage operation - no chained heat pumps needed
No refrigerants
Non-toxic operation - unlike traditional heat pumps
A fully reversible engine
Convert heat to electricity and back, ideal for thermal storage
Extremely efficient
With a fast near-isothermal heat transfer
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Built for the Future
Our engine doesn't just electrify heat; it enables long-duration energy storage by converting between heat and electricity. Perfect fit for thermal batteries.
Our Heat Engine Prototype
Our prototype heat engine demonstrates the core technology that enables high-temperature heat pump operation. This compact unit is currently undergoing testing to validate performance and efficiency targets.
The Business Case
The upfront cost is higher than a gas boiler replacement, typically 2-3x. However, payback periods range from 3-7 years through three key value streams:
Lower Costs
Energy arbitrage
Use electricity when it's cheap and gas when it's expensive
50% less power capacity
Hybrid operation means lower grid connection fees than pure electric boilers
15-25% cost reduction
Typical energy cost savings through smart switching and efficiency gains
Revenue Streams
Grid flexibility payments
Earn revenue by adjusting power use based on grid signals, turning decarbonization into profit.
€50-150/kW-yr for demand flexibility in many markets
Carbon pricing hedge
EU carbon prices have climbed from €25/tCO₂ in 2020 to €85+ in 2024, and are projected to exceed €100 by 2030.
Every megawatt-hour of heat you shift from gas to electricity avoids emissions, and future penalties.
"
Enedis forecasts demand-side flexibility in France will grow from ~1 GW today to 6.5 GW in 2028, opening up massive opportunity for smart, dispatchable heat solutions.
Source:Enedis Grid Flexibility Report(page 3)
Progress
We're currently building and testing a prototype that targets 200°C operation. The technology builds on proven Stirling engine principles but applies them in a new way to achieve higher temperatures than existing heat pumps. System efficiency will vary based on temperature lift and operating conditions - we're optimizing for real-world industrial applications.
1
Prototype in development
2025
Testing 200°C heat generation with target efficiency.
2
Second patents approval process
2026
Second patent submitted in Q2 2025. Our first patent will undergo a PCT extension.
3
Pilot installations
2027
On-site demonstrations with industry partners in food processing and chemical manufacturing.
4
Commercial deployments
2028
First commercial deployments across multiple industrial sectors and geographies.
World-Class Team
We've built a team of experts combining deep scientific knowledge with industrial expertise to solve one of the world's biggest climate challenges.
Leadership
Andreï KLOCHKO
CEO, Co-founder
Ph.D. plasma physics, Ecole Polytechnique
Franck LAHAYE
COO, Co-founder
Ex-Sales Director EMEA, Intelsat. Entrepreneur
Advisory Board
Laurent Carlier
CEO, LCI Group
Boiler Manufacturer
Jonathan Howes
Former CTO, Isentropic Ltd.
Engine designer and Mechanical Expert
Philippe Kavafyan
Former CEO, Aker Offshore Wind
Energy expert
John O'Donnell
Founder, Rondo
Thermal Energy Storage Expert, startup founder
Jérôme Pecresse
CEO, RioTinto Aluminium
Industrial expert
Cédric Robert
Co-founder, PF Invest
Manufacturing partner
Get in Touch
If your site needs 150 – 300 °C steam and you’re exploring hybrid electrification, book a model run. We'll create a tailored cost analysis for your specific site.
Prefer email? Reach us at: contact@airthium.com