Asperitas wins New Energy Challenge with integrated liquid immersion cooling technique for datacentres

The New Energy Challenge 2018 has been won by Asperitas from the Netherlands with their unique liquid-cooling solution for datacentres, called Immersed Computing^®. The liquid cooling system is far more sustainable than traditional air-based cooling systems. The jury praised the product for its energy reduction and energy reuse in the fast-growing datacentre market. Asperitas won a €100,000 grant from Shell Ventures.

Maikel Bouricius, Marketing Manager from Asperitas: “This is a big day for Asperitas. Winning the New Energy Challenge shows that we, as a clean-tech company, are on the right path to green the datacentre industry. After two years of development we launched our first solution in 2017, deployed the first projects this year and we expect winning this award can speed up our development once more.”

Demand for datacentres is rapidly growing as a result of the growing consumption of data. However, datacenters need cooling systems and they demand a lot of energy. Immersed Computing^® builds on existing liquid immersion cooling technologies by adding the integration of power and network components, improving cooling physics while at the same time maintaining a strong focus on design and engineering for usability. With this technology the energy footprint of a datacenter could be reduced with 50%. Even better, the electricity used would be turned into another energy: hot water of up to 65 degrees Celsius. This is a valuable, scalable and practical resource for heating.

Geert van de Wouw, Vice-President of Shell Ventures: “Asperitas has come up with a complete and integrated energy solution that can be effectively utilised in most, if not all, situations. It is a technology that offers a solution for an energy intensive application that is growing with immense speed. For that reason, Asperitas can play a valuable role in the energy transition.”

Runners-up

Two runners up in the New Energy Challenge 2018 were also named: Enapter and Lancey Energy Storage.

Enapter, which has offices in Germany, Italy and Thailand, offers a cradle-to-cradle recyclable, high-capacity energy storage solution. Their electrolysers handle intermittent power from renewables and require no precious metals. Lancey Energy Storage from France offers a new generation of electric heaters that contribute to the better integration of renewable energies on the grid and also to the reduction of heating costs. With their technology, they make it possible for everybody to take part in the energy transition.

Both runners-up will receive direct entry to the world-class accelerator programs of Yes!Delft or Rockstart to move their business forward.

Van der Wouw: “Collaboration between start-ups, entrepreneurs and businesses such as Shell New Energies is essential to accelerate a true transition to a new energy mix. It is clear that in the coming decades the world will need more and cleaner energy to meet growing demand. Realising this will require the full commitment, innovation and ingenuity of multiple actors. Our winner and runners-up have demonstrated these qualities.”

About the New Energy Challenge

The now third edition of the European-wide New Energy Challenge is a tough competition that pushes the boundaries of early stage start-ups active in the energy transition. Especially start-ups working at the crossroad of integrated energy technologies and smart energy solutions are sought after to help reduce the climate impact in a future energy system.

It calls for the best, possibly game-changing solutions of start-ups to come forward and work with us. At the New Energy Challenge, we are strong believers of collaboration in the transition to a lower-carbon energy system, because we can only succeed when working together. This is why we bring multiple actors together from start to finals. See www.newenergychallenge.com.

Partners

Shell Ventures

Shell Ventures (SV) BV is the corporate venture capital arm of Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell). With major offices in Europe and the USA, SV invests in technology companies and business models to enhance the development of new technologies that have the potential to create substantial deployment value in Shell. Continuing Shell’s tradition in venture capital since 1997, SV’s investment focus includes oil & gas technologies, renewable energy technologies, connected mobility and freight and business models underpinned by IT. SV co-invests with other corporate investors,

For more information, visit www.shell.com/techventures.

YES!Delft

YES!Delft is a tech incubator that helps entrepreneurs to build and grow leading technology companies. Its programs turn promising ideas and teams into solid start-ups and successful companies. YES!Delft offers graduates, scientists, engineers and professionals guidance in their startup journey. Its programs focus on customer validation and long-term growth of complex technologies. The YES!Delft network offers access to mentors, experts, investors and partners who share their know-how, network and experience.

Rockstart

Rockstart, one of Europe's first multi-vertical startup accelerators, was founded in Amsterdam in 2011 with a goal to support start-ups the first 1,000 days of existence. Since then Rockstart has become the specialist in building entire innovation ecosystems around specific domains—such as Digital Health and Smart Energy. Rockstart is actively building up entrepreneurial infrastructures around the world with its acceleration verticals, as well as early-stage startup programs, Rockstart Impact and Rockstart Launchtrack. Since the inception, Rockstart has invested in more than 100 start-ups and supported them in their journey to raise more than €45 million and hire more than 600 people. Rockstart is an international team of 40+ professionals dedicated to support and empower start-ups to become scalable and change their world for the better.

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