Barocal

Barocal is a spin-out from the University of Cambridge founded in 2019 by Dr. Xavier Moya and William Averdieck. The company is commercializing a new class of solid-state cooling technology based on barocaloric materials. This technology stems from 15 years of research at the University of Cambridge's Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona. Dr. Moya, a materials physics expert, led the research that discovered organic 'plastic crystal' materials that exhibit significant temperature changes when pressure is applied and released—a phenomenon known as the barocaloric effect.

Instead of relying on conventional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant gases, which have high global warming potential, Barocal uses solid organic materials. These materials are nontoxic, low-cost, readily available, and easier to recycle than gas-based refrigerants. By applying and releasing pressure, the system induces a solid-to-solid phase change in the barocaloric material, generating a cooling effect without the fugitive emissions associated with gas leakage. The company's systems are designed to be two to three times more energy-efficient than traditional vapor compression systems, potentially reducing cooling-related emissions by up to 75%.

Barocal's business model focuses on developing this technology for a range of applications, including commercial and domestic heating and cooling systems, air conditioning, and refrigeration. The company was the sole European finalist in the 2019 Global Cooling Prize and has secured significant funding to advance its technology. This includes a £1.3 million seed round in January 2022, led by IP Group and Cambridge Enterprise, and a €2.45 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. The company has also received backing from Breakthrough Energy, a climate-focused fund founded by Bill Gates.

Keywords: barocaloric effect, solid-state cooling, refrigerant-free, cleantech, HVAC, energy efficiency, plastic crystals, zero GWP, sustainable cooling, decarbonisation, heat pumps, thermal management, materials science, Cambridge spin-out, low-carbon refrigeration, non-vapor compression, solid refrigerants, climate tech, emission reduction, advanced materials