Micropelt

About Micropelt

Micropelt GmbH, established in 2006 as a spin-off from Infineon Technologies, was founded by Fritz Volkert, Dr. Joachim Nurnus, Dr. Wulf-Christian Daseking, and Burkhard Habbe. The founders leveraged their extensive backgrounds in semiconductor technology and research from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM and Infineon to pioneer advancements in thermoelectric devices. Dr. Nurnus, with his Ph.D. in physics, and Volkert, an engineer, combined their expertise to address the challenge of creating cost-effective and scalable micro-thermogenerators (µTEGs). The company's initial development was supported by a two-year coaching and financing program from the High-Tech Gründerfonds, a significant early milestone.

The core of Micropelt's business lies in the development and production of thermogenerators, which are devices that convert waste heat directly into usable electrical energy. This process, known as thermal energy harvesting, utilizes the company's patented, scalable semiconductor platform technology, enabling the creation of compact, robust, and cost-efficient µTEGs. These devices are designed to power wireless sensors and actuators, thereby eliminating the need for batteries in many industrial and building automation applications. Micropelt's business model revolves around selling these thermogenerator components and complete energy harvesting solutions to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators in markets such as industrial IoT, automotive, and building technology.

Micropelt's product portfolio includes the MTEG series of thermogenerators and comprehensive evaluation kits that allow clients to test and integrate the technology into their own systems. A key application is the iTRV, a self-powered thermostatic radiator valve that harvests energy from the temperature difference between the radiator and the ambient air. This eliminates the need for battery replacements in heating control systems, a significant benefit for facility management in large buildings. The primary selling point is the ability to create autonomous, maintenance-free wireless sensor networks, leading to reduced operational costs and increased reliability for their clients.