Alberto Mian, Author at Exergo

ExerGo harnesses renewable resources to provide natural and efficient free cooling

Alberto Mian — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:13:41 +0000

As heat waves are increasing each year due to climate change, so is the need for environmentally friendly cooling systems. How can we provide cooling services using less energy? With our efficient thermal networks, we can provide free cooling – a process using cold renewable resources to provide cooling directly to the users.

How does ExerGo’s free cooling work?

It’s simple. At ExerGo, we use low-temperature renewable resources, such as lakes, rivers, and air. The water or air passes the balancing plant where it cools down the CO2, which we use as a transfer fluid in a closed loop for optimised energy efficiency. Flowing through our small, flexible pipes to the customers’ substations, the CO2, in turn, cools down the water that flows into each building. Requiring neither cooling towers nor compressors, our solution is a natural, efficient, and easy-to-use cooling system for utilities, municipalities, and private companies without compromising the health of people and our planet.

Why CO2-based free cooling?

Compared to water-based networks our CO2-based network is up to nine times denser. This allows the use of smaller and flexible pipes, which, in turn, require smaller trenches and can cut up to 20% in CAPEX. With minimal roadwork, we also help reach our cities’ most densely populated urban areas and historical sites. Breaking down logistical and economical barriers, we make district heating and cooling possible everywhere.

Benefits of free cooling

Some benefits include:

Low electricity consumption of pumps thanks to the high energy density of CO2 compared to water
A natural, environmentally friendly option aligned with current and future climate policies
An all-in-one system, where users can benefit not only from cooling, but heating too

Want to learn more about how ExerGo's thermal networks?

We'll help you assess whether ExerGo is a good fit for your project.

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Welcome Guillaume, ExerGo’s new project manager

Alberto Mian — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 14:31:03 +0000

This month, we are thrilled to welcome Guillaume Cuvillier to our ExerGo team. Guillaume is an energy engineering specialised in district heating and cooling networks.

Could you tell us a bit about your background?

I grew up in a small French village called Asson at the foot of the Pyrenees. Passionate about the environment, I did my master’s in Sustainable Energy Systems at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. I then moved to Switzerland, where I’ve been working for various energy companies for more than 14 years.

What’s your role at ExerGo?

As a project manager, I’m responsible for customer projects and collaborating with the product development team to drive the company’s growth.

What inspired you to join our team?

After several years of working with traditional heating and cooling systems, I’ve seen the challenge of heat transport, especially in city centres. That’s why I’m attracted by the challenge of developing a new technology in a small but dynamic team such as ExerGo. The needs of experience, adaptation, and reactivity of the team totally meet my professional goals and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of the team.

What do you do outside of work?

I love doing sports such as ski touring, surfing, mountain biking, climbing, or building wooden surfboards. Above all, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends as it’s a great way to relax and keep a healthy work-life balance.

Want to learn more about the team?

Visit About Us

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ExerGo participates in the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2023

Alberto Mian — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:57:32 +0000

With our innovative and efficient thermal network solution powered by renewable energy and waste heat, we are participating in the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2023. Hosted by Venturelabs, an organisation driving startup development through various programmes, this annual event brings together the 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups for the 13^th consecutive year.

Our heating and cooling solution, the CO₂ network, is right in time. Having approved the net-zero climate law in June 2023, Switzerland is committed to phase out fossil fuels in favour of Swiss-made renewables to improve energy security. Compared to fossil fuel-based system, our networks can save 80% in primary energy and up to 25% of CAPEX compared to incumbent water-based systems making it the most viable and secure energy solution for our cities.

That’s why we are participating in the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award, to help Switzerland reach its ambitious climate goals.

But we can’t do it alone. We need your help.

The voting comprises two independent ballots: Public Voting and Top 100 Ranking.

Public Voting: All LinkedIn user are eligible to vote for their favourite startup before the end of July 23. See how below.
Top 100 Ranking: A panel of 100 esteemed investors and experts vote into their top 100 startups, which CEOs are invited to the award ceremony in Zurich on September 6.

Want to help us make it to the top? Here’s how:

Visit our profile at https://www.startup.ch/exergo
Click on the golden “Vote now” button
Log in with your LinkedIn profile, and voila – that’s it

Thank you for helping us shape the future of energy.

Are you ready for the energy transition?

Vote Now

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ExerGo is granted CHF 1.6 million from the Swiss Accelerator Innosuisse Programme

Alberto Mian — Tue, 02 May 2023 07:32:06 +0000

Yverdon-les-Bains – Switzerland – 02 May 2023 – District heating and cooling startup ExerGo announces today that it has successfully obtained a Swiss Accelerator grant of CHF 1.6 million from Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency. This competitive funding programme aims to accelerate the growth of SMEs and startups with an extraordinary innovation potential to help them commercialise new and innovative products and services, quickly and effectively.

Out of 752 applicants and three evaluation rounds, ExerGo’s application “Accelerated Energy Transition In Cities” is one of the 53 selected Swiss Accelerator projects supported by Innosuisse. The startup has shown the jury the outstanding potential of its compact and efficient thermal network solution along with a clear-cut market strategy.

“We deeply thank Innosuisse for this grant, which will enable us to accelerate our industrialization, IP creation, and commercialization in Switzerland and abroad. This result wouldn’t have been possible without my special team able to elaborate a strong proposal with key milestones. This will allow us to continue our progression towards international adoption of our unique technology in multiple applications.”

Alberto Mian, CEO, ExerGo Tweet

Powering the future, ExerGo’s network can help its B2B customers save up to 60% in roadwork and pipe infrastructure costs. Using CO₂ as an energy transfer fluid in a closed loop, its thermal networks are up to nine times more compact versus conventional low-temperature water-based systems. ExerGo’s solution can also work in combination with larger networks, making it possible to reach customers in dense urban areas or to source large heat pumps with heat from the environment. Where space is too constrained for traditional thermal networks and continuing burning oil and gas would have been the only solution, ExerGo’s compact network can replace such systems, saving up to 80% in primary energy consumption.

With its competitive offer, the company teams up with energy players such as utilities, municipalities, real estate developers, and private companies that are looking for an efficient, affordable, and sustainable energy solution. Having secured multiple projects in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, ExerGo is now zeroing in on the Swiss-German market, where its launchpad will be the AEE Wärmekongress in Pratteln, Switzerland, at the end of the month.

About ExerGo

ExerGo is a Swiss B2B cleantech startup committed to provide sustainable, affordable, and efficient energy services to cities and communities around the world. Harnessing renewable resources and waste heat, we use CO₂ as a dense, low-temperature fluid creating sustainable energy networks with significantly increased efficiency compared to traditional fossil-fuel and water-based systems.

Learn more about ExerGo on www.exergo.com, and by following us on LinkedIn.

Press contacts

Felicia Noreskar, Communications and Marketing Manager, felicia.noreskar@exergo.com, Tel: +41 79 921 43 82

Attachments

English: 20230502_EN_Press Release_ExerGo is granted CHF 1.6 million from the Swiss Accelerator Innosuisse…

German: 20230502_DE_Press Release_ExerGo is granted CHF 1.6 million from the Swiss Accelerator Innosuisse…

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ExerGo taps into the real estate ecosystem at RENT 2023

Alberto Mian — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:14:27 +0000

Last month, we presented our efficient district heating and cooling network at RENT – Switzerland’s largest real estate event – hosted by Real Estate Meetings.

At ExerGo, we were proud to join the RENT event together with 2,000+ professionals from 100+ companies at the SwissTech Convention Centre of EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, on March 29-30. With our successful running pilot installation, multiple projects underway with utilities and private companies, plus a recent 1M in additional funding , we are accelerating our commercialization by tapping into the burgeoning real estate ecosystem.

According to the World Economic Forum’s article ‘Why heat is a challenge in the fight against climate change, and what we can do about it’, heat comprises half of the world’s total energy consumption and more than 40% of the global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Partnering with real estate players is therefore a steppingstone on our mission towards decarbonising our cities. With our efficient heating and cooling network — powered by renewable resources and waste heat — we help our B2B customers transition from fossil-fuel based systems and save up to 80% in primary energy. Providing not only a network for heating, but cooling, too, we are optimizing energy efficiency and future-proofing the energy needs of our cities all-year-around.

During RENT’s three-day event, we met leading real estate companies, utilities, and construction companies within sustainability, such as EWZ, Romande Energie, Orllati, and Steiner, to discuss the future of our cities.

“At RENT, we are always on the lookout for cutting-edge solutions that can help us shape a better future. We are therefore proud to bring together cleantech companies such as ExerGo with large corporations to foster strategic partnerships and a more sustainable building sector.”

Philippe Voland, Founder of REM, Real Estate Meeting and RENT SWITZERLAND, and Dorian Cleaver, Communications Lead, Privilège Events & Communication SA Tweet

Compatible with existing heating and cooling equipment, we offer our customers significant economic and sustainable gains — not only compared to fossil-fuel based systems, but also compared to water-based thermal energy networks. Using CO₂ instead of water as a transfer fluid in a closed loop our network is nine times denser and more energy efficient. This allows the use of smaller, flexible pipes with up to 60% savings in roadwork costs.

Vincent Ecker, Managing Director, Swiss Climate Foundation and partner of ExerGo:

“We need innovative technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of our cities. ExerGo, supported by the Swiss Climate Foundation, develops an urgently needed solution to transfer heat and cold with efficient thermal networks for high-density urban areas.”

Tweet

The RENT event proved that energy remains a hot topic as companies and cities worldwide are raising their sustainability goals to limit global warming to 1.5°C according to the Paris agreement. Supporting our customers throughout the entire value chain — from consulting and engineering to construction and procurement, and all the way to monitoring and maintenance – we offer them a clear-cut pathway to net zero.

Ready to decarbonize?

Book a free appointment today

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ExerGo hires three new talents in finance, sales, and tech

Alberto Mian — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

This month, we are celebrating our three new hires in finance, sales, and tech. Meet Ali Kheloui, Hesham Selim and Pierre-Aloïs Roux.

At ExerGo, we embrace diversity. That’s why we are proud to welcome Ali Kheloui, Hesham Selim and Pierre-Aloïs Roux. What unites them is that they all come with a different skillset, experience, and nationality. In fact, three quarters of our team (9 of 12 employees), grew up in a different country from one another, widening our company’s horizons.

Alberto Mian, CEO, ExerGo:

“I believe our differences makes us stronger. Having such a diverse team is key, especially as we are entering the global market.”

Welcome Ali, Hesham, and Pierre-Aloïs

Meet Ali, our newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Having supported ExerGo as a contractor since last year, today we are proud to welcome him as an employee. Ali has lived and worked in Senegal, where he grew up, and Portugal before settling down in Switzerland. With more than 20 years’ experience working for multinational- and small companies in various industries – shipping, investments management, and energy – plus having led multiple ventures spanning across four continents – Ali has a 360-degree experience in finance and business management. A true entrepreneur — Ali is an invaluable asset to the team.

Meet Hesham, our multi-lingual Enterprise Account Manager adept in sales, business development, and project management. Born in Egypt, but growing up in various continents across the world, this polyglot speaks English, French, German and Arabic fluently, while having a good knowledge of Spanish and Italian too. With his customer-oriented mind, curiosity, and enthusiasm, Hesham lives and breathes the spirit of ExerGo.

Meet Pierre (Pierre-Aloïs), our Swiss Junior Engineer fresh out of university, where he has earned a master’s in mechanical engineering. Specialising in energy and the environment, Pierre did his thesis on ExerGo’s CO₂ network. Passionate about cleantech coupled with his first experience with ExerGo, Pierre is the perfect fit for our growing technical team.

Having recently secured another €1 million in capital to accelerate our commercialization in Switzerland and worldwide, our new hires will play an instrumental role to help reach our ambitious targets in 2023 and beyond.

Want to learn more about Ali, Hesham, Pierre, and the team?

Visit About Us

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Swiss cleantech startup ExerGo secures an additional €1M to accelerate commercialization in Switzerland and worldwide

Alberto Mian — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:34:31 +0000

Yverdon-les-Bains – Switzerland – 2 March 2023 – ExerGo announces today that, in addition to last year’s seed funding round of €3.2 million, it has secured another €1 million in capital to accelerate its commercialization and expand its operation into new markets. The investments come from its existing investors EREN Groupe, Baker Hughes and a private investor. This growth support is further sustained by the development partners Swiss Climate Foundation and The Foundation for Technological Innovation (FIT).

The activation of the investments’ options demonstrates the investors’ trust in ExerGo’s technology. Showing the impact of its ongoing and future projects, the company proves that compact thermal networks are and will continue to be the most sustainable and economically viable energy solution for utilities, real estate developers, and industrial applications.

With its all-year-round operating pilot plant in Sion (Valais, Switzerland), which held an open-house inauguration welcoming more than 80 leaders in the energy- and cleantech sector last year, and with multiple commercialization projects in the pipeline, the startup is laser-focused on blazing a new path toward sustainable energy.

Vincent Eckert, Managing Director, Swiss Climate Foundation:

“We need innovative technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of our cities. ExerGo, supported by the Swiss Climate Foundation, develops an urgently needed solution to transfer heat and cold with efficient networks for high-density urban areas. This allows the use of residual heat and cold, that would be wasted otherwise.”

Harnessing renewable resources and waste heat, ExerGo helps its customers save up to 80% in primary energy compared to fossil fuel-based systems. In addition, the startup uses CO₂ as a working fluid in a closed system, differentiating itself from water-based heating and cooling networks. This makes the system up to nine times denser, and significantly smaller and faster to deploy, with up to 60% savings in network installation cost.

As ExerGo continues to advance its technology and gain recognition, the startup prides itself that more and more utilities, municipalities, and private companies worldwide are warming up to such innovative solutions. The startup is also expanding its services to the real estate market, where it will meet more than 2,500 professionals at RENT – Switzerland’s leading real estate event – to present its compact thermal network.

About ExerGo (www.exergo.com)

ExerGo is a Swiss B2B cleantech startup committed to provide sustainable, affordable, and efficient energy services to cities and communities around the world. Harnessing renewable resources and waste heat, we turn CO₂ into a dense, low-temperature fluid creating sustainable energy networks with significantly increased efficiency compared to traditional fossil-fuel and water-based systems.

Learn more about ExerGo on www.exergo.com, and by following us on LinkedIn.

Press contacts:

Felicia Noreskar, Communications and Marketing Manager, felicia.noreskar@exergo.com, Tel: +41 79 921 43 82

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H₂O to CO₂? Seven benefits of using CO₂ in thermal networks

Alberto Mian — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 08:10:26 +0000

What if we can not only help reduce CO₂, but also make it work to our advantage? With our innovative compact thermal network, we are a B2B startup committed to upend the energy industry and provide sustainable, affordable, and efficient heating and cooling for people and the planet.

Why thermal networks?

Today, thermal networks are a hot topic. Amid the global climate change and energy crisis, such networks see an upswing as world’s cities are scrambling for renewable and reliable energy sources. Compared to standalone units using fossil-fuels, district heating and cooling systems are more sustainable and efficient as they optimize the energy flow between its users, saving up to 80% in primary energy.

Water-based networks: Traditional- and the anergy network

While thermal networks are advancing, the most common one today is the traditional one using hot water, generally with supply and return temperatures of up to 90°C and 60°C respectively. Although it benefits from small pipes and therefore less construction requirements, it suffers from energy losses of up to 15%. The newer model, the anergy water network, is operating at a much lower temperature (8°C supply and 5°C return), while also keeping energy losses at a minimum. The downside: it requires significantly larger pipes because the need of a higher flow rate. This is due to the smaller possible temperature difference between the pipes (8/5°C in anergy networks, compared to 90/60°C in traditional ones) as temperature difference and flow are needed to transfer energy.

The thermal energy revolution: from H₂O to CO₂

At ExerGo, we are moving beyond these parameters by pioneering a new way to transfer energy — through a phase change using carbon dioxide. This allows us to reap the benefits of both the traditional and anergy networks: small pipes, less construction, and low temperatures. With our thermal networks powered by renewable resources and waste heat, we turn CO₂ into a positive use of resource that can contribute to the energy transition.

Water thermal network

Large and rigid pipes.

CO₂ thermal network

Small and flexible pipes.

Seven surprising benefits of using CO₂ in thermal networks

CO₂ can be turned into a low temperature working fluid mitigating energy losses.
Energy is transferred through a phase change (liquid to vapor, and vice versa), instead of temperature differences as done in water-based networks. This makes our network up to nine times denser and significantly more efficient.
This high energy density allows the use of smaller, flexible pipes, which can save up to 60% in installation time and cost as less construction is needed.
Our CO₂ network is compatible with standard heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and can easily replace or complement existing networks needing a last-mile solution.
The CO₂ used is a by-product from industrial processes. Currently we are also exploring partnerships with carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) companies to leverage such capabilities once these technologies become available for our industry.
CO₂ as a refrigerant has been used for supermarkets, ice rinks and factories for decades and is a safe, proven method, which we are now applying to district heating and cooling.
While CO₂ and water are the only natural refrigerants that are non-flammable and non-toxic, CO₂ is also a fire extinguisher agent that leaves no damages or residue such as foam, powder, or water. In the future, our technology may even double as an additional means of firefighting in cities.

Having successfully launched our pilot project in Sion, Switzerland with our deployment partners, we have demonstrated that sustainable and high-efficient energy networks for our cities are attainable.

Ready to decarbonize?

Book a free appointment

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Meet Christelle Benaglia, ExerGo’s new COO

Alberto Mian — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:01:13 +0000

We are excited to welcoming Christelle Benaglia as our newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) and first female executive member.

At ExerGo, we are committed to providing sustainable, affordable, and efficient district heating and cooling. Our B2B startup caters to utilities, real estate companies, and public- and private organizations looking to improve their energy services. To bring our solution to the market and help us grow, we need the right people and mindset. Having lived in multiple countries with over 20 years of experience in various industries (consulting, banking, public services, solar etc.), Christelle will breathe new life into our team and the energy industry.

“The heating and cooling sector is ripe for innovation. Today, our buildings account for 30% of the final energy consumption worldwide, with fossil fuel-based systems still dominating the sector. It’s high time to change that. With our CO₂ thermal networks, we provide heating and cooling simultaneously, while creating sustainable synergies for people and the planet."

Christelle Benaglia, COO, ExerGo

Powered by renewable resources and waste heat, our network is compatible with standard heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, making it compatible with existing technical requirements in any climate zone. Having launched our pilot project in Sion, Switzerland, with our deployment partners, we are ready to commercialize our thermal energy solution.

Alberto Mian, CEO, ExerGo:

“Christelle has already proven to be an indispensable member of our Executive Committee. Her out-of-the-box mindset and interpersonal intelligence gained from her experience in various multinational organizations are exactly the skills we need when entering this new phase.”

Christelle has supported the company since the beginning of 2022 and as a full-time employee since October 2022. She has helped to grow the team from its three to nine employees as of today, established and streamlined processes, and secured new strategic partnerships and fundings. Going forward, Christelle will continue to grow the team and strengthen the company culture while overseeing day-to-day operations in close collaboration with the CEO.

To learn more about Christelle and the team, visit our About Us page.

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The inauguration of the world’s first CO₂ thermal network hosted by ExerGo, HES-SO, Zero-C, Oiken, and EPFL

Alberto Mian — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:25:35 +0000

The inauguration in Sion on 7 December 2022 saw more than eighty people from the Swiss and international energy-, real estate- and cleantech ecosystem gathering to discuss the future of energy. Showcasing our innovation, the CO₂ network, we are offering a sustainable, affordable, and efficient heating and cooling solution to combat today’s energy crisis and climate change.

How can we provide more energy using less? With our patented CO₂ network, we are a B2B startup committed to help companies and their end-users save energy, costs, and emissions. Piloting the world’s first CO₂ thermal network, we provide heating and cooling simultaneously for the three multi-storey buildings of HES-SO’s Energypolis Campus. This will repower hundreds of students, employees, and researchers at the Swiss engineering university with clean energy for generations to come.

Since the launch in April 2022, our pilot project is fully operational while also serving as a showroom for anyone interested in sustainable heating and cooling services. The inauguration marks the beginning of the commercialization phase as leading energy players on a local, national, and international level, such as SIG, Romande Energie, Groupe E, MAN Energy Solutions, ENGIE and Eren Groupe, came to the event to learn more about the impact of our innovation.

"This is only the beginning of a great shift towards efficient energy that’s accessible to all. Faced with climate change and an energy crisis unlike anything we’ve seen before, the world is in dire need of cutting-edge startups like ExerGo that can help us reimagine a sustainable future.”

ALEXIS GOLDBERG, HEAD OF DISTRICT HEATING MARKET, ENGIE SOLUTIONS Tweet

The event opened with a presentation from all project partners (HES-SO, EPFL, Zero-C, Oiken and ExerGo), followed by a guided tour of the installation rooms and an apéro.

“It’s an impressive innovation. ExerGo, our school of engineering, and the partners of the project have proven that highly efficient energy networks are possible without compromising the safety of people and our planet. It’s well monitored with several measurements in place, such as sensors, ventilators, and double envelope, to manage any leakage should they occur. This is the sustainable, efficient, and safe energy solution that our world needs, and at HES-SO, we are proud to be a contributor and an early adopter of such future technologies.”

Cherix Gaëtan, Director HEI - School of Engineering, HES-SO Tweet

On our way to becoming the technology enabler for efficient thermal networks, we are engaging with customers locally and globally. Recently, we won the first tender with a leading Swiss utility and are currently doing multiple feasibility studies with other regional utilities. In addition, we’ve attracted the interest of customers beyond the Swiss borders – from Europe to the Middle East to North America and Asia.

With our demonstration plant, multiple projects in the pipeline, and seed funding from existing investors, such as Baker Hughes, EREN Group and Foundation for Technical Innovation (FIT), we’re ready to commercialize our network. Thank you to everyone for joining our inauguration, and a special thanks to all our partners who are supporting us on our journey.

Interested and want to learn more?

Book a free appointment

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