Refrigeration is one of the most energy-intensive and climate-relevant technologies in everyday infrastructure. Today, the majority of cooling systems still rely on gas-compression technology and climate-harmful refrigerants (F-gases). These systems are not only energy-intensive but also require complex maintenance and carry environmental risks if refrigerants leak.
This is the system that MAGNOTHERM, alumni of our 3rd class is aiming to replace.
MAGNOTHERM, a spin-off from TU Darmstadt, develops magnetic refrigeration technology based on the magnetocaloric effect. Instead of compressing gases, their systems use iron-based alloys that heat up and cool down in response to magnetic fields.
The result is a new generation of cooling systems that can:
reduce electricity consumption by up to ~40% compared to conventional systems
eliminate climate-damaging refrigerants entirely
operate at low pressure with reduced maintenance needs and improved safety
A key step in MAGNOTHERM’s journey was its integration into the SpinLab ecosystem, which helped connect the startup with investors and industry partners. According to the company, a decisive moment was an investor matchmaking event by SpinLab, where MAGNOTHERM met lead investor Extantia Capital, helping bridge the gap between research and commercialization. This ecosystem effect later contributed indirectly to one of the most important milestones so far: a pilot collaboration with REWE Group.
Following successful testing in a model store environment, REWE is now rolling out MAGNOTHERM’s ECLIPSE magnetic cooling platform in around 10 supermarkets in Germany. The system is being deployed in a top-loader refrigerator configuration and will be tested under real-world retail conditions.
Key aspects of the pilot include:
refrigerant-free refrigeration in live supermarket operations
evaluation of energy efficiency improvements and operational stability
scaling validation for broader deployment in retail environments
Early test results reportedly showed efficiency gains and strong system performance, paving the way for real-world deployment.
If successful at scale, the collaboration could represent a significant development in commercial refrigeration, one of the largest and most energy-intensive segments of global infrastructure. For REWE, it advances sustainability and operational efficiency objectives. For MAGNOTHERM, it marks an important step from deep-tech development toward commercial deployment.
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