SolidWatts is developing an industrial-grade radio frequency and microwave heating technology to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels. The CERN spin-off won Venture Kick’s third stage prize, obtaining CHF 150'000 to accelerate development and market entry.
Both climate change and geopolitical disruptions have highlighted that relying on fossil fuels for heat-based industrial processes is unsustainable. As many see a shift towards green electricity to be the way forward, radio frequency technology, which can create heat with substantially lower energy loss than other heating methods, has the potential to revolutionize various industries. However, the power level needed for heavy industrial applications has not previously been realized.
Incorporated in 2022, SolidWatts has elevated the potential of industrial radio frequency (RF) and microwave (MW) heating technologies with its highly efficient solid-state power amplifiers (SSPA). The power amplifiers are designed for high power (from 10 kW to Megawatt levels), scalability, and fine-grain process control, providing a superior energy solution that reduces operating costs for power-hungry heat processes while reducing carbon emissions.
The startup estimates that using carbon-neutral electricity to feed RF and MW power amplifiers would save over 100 Megatons of CO2 annually. Beyond its high relevance for large-scale process industries, it also has applications in particle acceleration, direct CO2 capture processes, and advanced recycling ecosystems. The global market for RF and MW heating lies in the tens of billions of euros in Europe alone.
The obtained CHF 150,000 award prize from Venture Kick will accelerate product development actions and market entry. It will also enable extending its business development activities with its early-stage customers within Switzerland and Europe.
Co-founded by Dr Markus Aicheler (CEO) and Dr Jan Kovermann (CTO), both of whom are former research fellows at CERN and bring entrepreneurial experience, SolidWatts also counts on the expertise of Dr Sergio Calatroni of CERN, an expert on the emerging nuclear energy sectors, as scientific advisor. As a CERN Technology Partner, SolidWatts benefits from access to unique facilities and collaborative potential thanks to its affiliation with the globally renowned institution.
CEO Markus Aicheler concludes: “We appreciate our association with Venture Kick. It has been a tremendously positive experience. The coaching alone has been invaluable, and without it, I doubt we would be where we are today. Having top-class people sincerely trying to help us has been so rewarding, and we are excited to continue the journey as we bring our superior technology to market.”
(Press release/RAN)
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