Materials science startup Barocal has raised $10 million in a seed funding round to speed up the commercial release of its solid-state cooling and heating platform. This platform aims to cut emissions from high-energy sectors. The investment reflects a growing interest in data centre cooling, refrigeration emissions, solid-state cooling technology, HVAC decarbonisation, and climate tech funding, as industries look for scalable solutions to reduce energy use.

The company plans to use the funds to expand its patented system as a low-emission alternative to traditional cooling methods. With global demand for cooling rising sharply, especially in data centres and refrigeration, innovations in these areas are seen as crucial for achieving climate targets.

Addressing a Major Source of Global Emissions

Heating and cooling systems contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 15% annually. Cooling alone generated more than 4 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions in 2022, driven by the widespread use of traditional vapour-compression technologies. Demand for cooling is expected to triple by 2050, increasing the urgency for cleaner options.

Barocal’s technology aims to tackle this issue by replacing conventional systems with solid-state materials that do not require refrigerant gases, which are often powerful greenhouse contributors. By improving energy efficiency and removing harmful chemicals, the platform seeks to reduce both direct and indirect emissions across different industries.

Origins in Academic Research

Founded in 2019 as a spin-out from the University of Cambridge, Barocal builds on years of research led by materials scientist Xavier Moya. The company has developed proprietary materials that can provide heating and cooling through pressure-induced thermal changes, offering a fundamentally different approach from traditional systems.

This innovation marks a breakthrough in materials science, where researchers have long aimed to create effective solid-state alternatives that can match the performance and cost of vapour-based systems. Barocal claims its platform can achieve cost parity while significantly lowering emissions, making it competitive in the market.

Targeting High-Growth Industrial Applications

Barocal plans to focus initially on high-demand sectors such as data centre cooling and commercial refrigeration, where managing energy use and heat is a major operational challenge. Data centres, in particular, require constant cooling to maintain server performance, making them a prime target for improving efficiency.

The global heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) market is currently valued at about $450 billion and is projected to reach around $577 billion by 2033. This growth is driven by urbanisation, digitalisation, and rising temperatures, all of which increase the demand for reliable and efficient cooling systems.

By entering these markets, Barocal aims to establish its technology as a scalable solution that meets both economic and environmental needs. The company’s approach aligns with broader industry efforts to decarbonise infrastructure while maintaining performance standards.

Industry and Investor Backing

The funding round attracted several climate-focused investors, including World Fund, Breakthrough Energy Discovery, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, and IP Group. Their involvement reflects increasing investor confidence in new technologies that tackle hard-to-abate emissions sectors.

Investors noted the importance of Barocal’s material innovation, pointing out that solid-state cooling has long been viewed as a challenging area in energy technology. The company’s progress is seen as a potential game-changer in how cooling systems are designed and implemented worldwide.

Climate Impact and Future Outlook

Barocal’s founder, Xavier Moya, stressed the importance of addressing emissions from heating and cooling systems, calling them a critical yet often overlooked part of the global climate challenge. According to the company, making significant reductions in these emissions could be key to meeting international climate goals, including limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

As industries face more regulatory pressure and rising energy costs, demand for low-emission technologies is likely to increase. Barocal’s next phase will focus on boosting production, refining its technology, and entering commercial markets.

The company’s development comes at a time when governments and businesses are stepping up efforts to decarbonise infrastructure. If deployed successfully at scale, solid-state cooling could lead to major emissions reductions while supporting the continued growth of digital and industrial systems.