The Exergyn Drive™ – An Engine That Runs On Hot Water: The Exergyn Drive

Programme(s): H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy
H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
Topic(s): SIE-01-2014 - Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon energy system
Call for proposal: H2020-SMEINST-2-2014
Funding Scheme: SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

Grant agreement ID: 672528

Objective
Low-grade waste heat (“LGWH”) is defined herein as being water of <120ºC, usually 80º-95ºC. Most power producers are making no use of their LGWH. The amount of waste heat produced worldwide every year is equivalent to 12 years of electricity consumption in the EU. There is currently no commercial solution to the LGWH problem. A commercial solution could have a global market of €440+ billion & reduce CO2 emissions by 700 million tonnes p.a. (c.2% decrease on 2014 levels). Up to 5,400 direct & indirect jobs could be created across Europe, and Europe’s energy security could be improved, as a result.

Exergyn, has developed a patented engine that runs on hot water (the “Exergyn Drive™”). It converts LGWH to mechanical or electrical power using nitinol.

Exergyn is at TRL 6, having spent 3+ years and €1.4m+ in cash to reach this point. This project will allow Exergyn to reach TRL9 and to be :
1. Ready to sell up to 35 x 10kW Exergyn Drives™ per month
2. Ready to produce 35 x 10kW Exergyn Drives™ per month
3. Internationally protected against competitors (via its IP portfolio)

Exergyn’s vision is to meaningfully reduce global carbon emissions via the profitable mass-deployment of its innovations. This project is thus perfectly aligned with the company’s strategy.

The Exergyn Drive™ converts the radiator heat from power plants into power. It is a highly disruptive technology. It can be produced at low-cost and can be sold profitably to a mass-market on a compelling commercial basis (3-year payback). Exergyn has spent 2+-man years researching its initial market – with 7,000+ biogas sites mapped across Europe. UK biogas is the initial target market because their plant runs 24/7, makes no use of its LGWH, and receives high feed-in tariffs for its electricity.

The closest competitor-technology (ORC) is mature technology and is not considered to be a commercial solution by players in the market

Exergyn has a very strong commercial, technical and financial team.