OsmoBlue, a finalist in the 2013 Science|Business ACES awards for university spin-outs, has been awarded CHF 130,000 (€106,000) by the Swiss investment body Venture Kick.
This will further the development of the company’s technology for generating electricity from low-temperature heat sources. While at present there is no commercial system that is capable of converting industrial waste heat of less than 100°C into electricity, OsmoBlue says its technology will work at temperatures as low as 30°C.
Furthermore, it will be possible to recycle heat from wide range of sources, including air, water, gas or steam. The technology is based on the principle of osmosis.
Unexploited energy
According to OsmoBlue, low-temperature heat released as part of industrial waste streams could provide sufficient energy to power every house in the US and in Europe. The company is now finalising its prototype and will build a pilot unit that can produce 100 kW of electricity to prove the technology.
Co-founder Elodie Dahan said Venture Kick provided very constructive feedback and advice to help develop the company’s business plan. “With the funds received, OsmoBlue will grow and start developing its first pilot unit,” she said.
OsmoBlue
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