Traditional refrigeration systems contribute significantly to global energy consumption, consuming about 8% of global electricity. This means current refrigerators are heating up our planet to keep our food cool.

Magnetocaloric refrigeration systems significantly reduce the required energy consumption. Magneto is co-developing a proof-of-concept refrigeration system for a supermarket, showcasing the technology’s superior energy efficiency and reliability. This paves the way for applications ranging from household refrigerators to industrial freezing systems operating down to -80 °C.

In Europe, 80% of household energy consumption goes towards heating, with over two thirds of the energy coming from fossil fuels. Heat pumps are considered a key technology in the transition to renewable energy sources. With the help of subsidies, Europe is starting to convert households to using heat pumps which require a large investment compared to a gas boiler.

Current vapor compression systems have significant limitations in both efficiency and environmental impact hindering this conversion:

• Relatively low energy efficiency increases the payback period of an investment; and limits the net reduction in CO2 emissions that can be achieved compared to gas boilers.
• To switch from gas to electrical heating, the electricity grid will require extra capacity, especially during cold winter days. Electricity providers face huge challenges to provide this extra capacity in time.
• Harmful refrigerant gasses used in heat pumps leak out, causing global warming effects several thousand times stronger as CO2 on a per kilogram basis. Reducing these leakages, and assuring a safe system, requires well trained mechanics. The limited availability of these mechanics is considered a major bottleneck for a fast conversion in Europe.

Magneto powered magnetocaloric heat pumps offer a superior solution, minimizing energy consumption and reducing CO2 emissions compared to traditional gas boilers. By enhancing efficiency, the transition to electrical heating becomes more feasible, aiding in Europe’s energy transition efforts.

The global demand for heat between 60 and 200 °C is over twice the demand for heat below 60 °C. Conventional vapor compression heat pumps cannot provide heat at temperatures exceeding 80 °C, leading to reliance on fossil fuels for high-temperature applications.

Magnetocaloric heat pumps offer a solution for industries requiring heat between 60 and 200 °C, significantly expanding the potential for efficient heating in processes such as steam generation and paper production.

Low value residual heat, below 70 °C, is currently considered waste for most industries. 44% of the energy used globally for electricity production is lost as waste heat. As this below 100 °C heat cannot be used to generate steam, it cannot be converted into electricity in the conventional way.

The Magnetocaloric effect works two ways – from electricity to heat and vice versa.
Our magnetocaloric material can be used to build a thermomagnetic motor, which can efficiently convert low-temperature waste heat into electricity. This means that this vast resource of low value energy can be converted into high value electric energy, thereby decreasing our total energy demand.