Energy intensity, huge costs, inaccuracy, noise pollution, landscape destruction, and space consumption are some disadvantages resulting from geothermal drilling with conventional machines. As a result, many buildings cannot benefit from geothermal heat. Borobotics is developing an autonomous and energy-efficient mode of operation: a drilling robot that, together with auxiliary equipment, will use up to 90% less space than existing solutions while significantly reducing the costs, noise and CO2 emission produced by the drilling. The company generates revenue through a leasing model where drilling companies pay per meter drilled.
With buildings lacking enough space for conventional drills and a lack of availability of drills and personnel, current and forecasted market demand cannot be met: Switzerland and Germany only have plans to add 1.7 million geothermal probes until 2035. With its autonomous and space-efficient robots, Borobotics offers a solution to both and aims to take a significant share of the market.
The startup will invest CHF150,000 from Venture Kick in drill tests of its robot in order to be ready to unveil a working prototype to the geothermal world at the Geotherm Fair 2024, one of the most important geothermal energy fairs in 2024.
The company evolved from a Zurich University of Applied Sciences research project initiated by Dr. Hans-Jörg Dennig, a mechanical engineer, lecturer, and experienced founder. He is joined by two co-founders: Philipp Ganz (Engineering) and Moritz Pill (Commercialization and Business Development).
(Press release/RAN
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