Austrian clean-tech company ecop Technologies has been awarded up to €8.5 million ($9.28 million) in funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator to support the production of its rotation heat pump technology, designed for industrial applications such as district heating.
Ecop’s innovative heat pump design uses centrifugal force and a blend of noble gases under high pressure to offer high-efficiency heating.
The EIC Accelerator, which is tailored to support innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones, recognized the significant decarbonization potential of ecop’s unique heat pump design.
“The EU’s innovation ecosystem has been an integral source of support as ecop has developed our technology and our business,” said Fabian Sacharowitz, CEO of ecop. “This funding will enable us to finalize the development of our new rotor design and take the next step in scaling up, making our heat pump solution more broadly available, and ultimately enabling more companies and municipalities to generate affordable and CO2-free heat to sustainably power their operations.”
Of the total funding awarded to ecop, €2.5 million ($2.73 million) is a grant. The remaining €6 million ($6.56 million) will be provided as equity funding through the EIC’s investment arm, the EIC Fund.
Ecop is one of 68 companies to receive funding from the EIC Accelerator, with a total of €411 million ($449.1 million) in funding being made available. More than 960 deep-tech startups and small companies applied.
“This funding will enable us to finalize the development of our new rotor design and take the next step in scaling up, making our heat pump solution more broadly available, and ultimately enabling more companies and municipalities to generate affordable and CO2-free heat to sustainably power their operations.”
Fabian Sacharowitz, ecop
Heat pump innovation
Ecop’s innovative rotation heat pump differs from conventional technologies by employing a rotating system where the working gas is compressed by centrifugal force, eliminating the need for phase changes. As the gas moves outward from the axis of rotation, it compresses and heats up, releasing heat through a heat exchanger. As it moves back towards the axis, it cools down and absorbs heat, creating a continuous, efficient cycle.
This approach enhances efficiency by eliminating energy losses associated with phase changes, achieving high compression with reduced mechanical effort and improving heat transfer with consistent and controlled temperature changes.
According to ecop, its heat pump, which uses waste industrial heat and ambient air as a heat source, has a COP of between 4 and 7 and can produce output temperatures up to 200°C (392°F), depending on the application and source temperatures. In comparison, most conventional heat pumps have a COP of up to 5 and can supply temperatures up to 80°C (176°F).
Showcasing the technology
Ecop first developed a proof of concept for its rotation heat pump technology in 2014, building its first prototype of the 700kW (199TR) system between 2016 and 2018. In 2019, the company launched the first pilot project, where the system achieved output temperatures of up to 90°C (194°F).
Since then, ecop has continued to refine the technology and has recently produced the third generation of its rotation heat pump. This latest version will be a central component of Germany’s first underground storage facility, located in Meldorf.
The heat storage system is designed to be served directly by waste industrial heat where adequate supply exists. When the heat source is insufficient – whether in temperature or quantity – two of ecop’s rotation heat pumps will lift source temperatures to 80°C.
“Heat storage systems are one of the key technologies for the heat transition,” said David Sauss, Project Manager at the Steinbeis Innovation Center enegieplus, the organization overseeing the system. “Until now, it has been very challenging to fill them ecologically and use them efficiently. The rotation heat pump solves both problems and therefore fits perfectly into the project.”
The Meldorf facility is expected to be operational by 2025, and ecop plans to begin series production of its heat pump technology in 2026.
