The use of air conditioning is increasing globally as a response to a warming climate, a trend that is predicted to quadruple in the future. As cooling and heating already account for around 40% of global energy consumption – the need for a sustainable refrigeration and heating solution has never been more pressing.
Barocal transforms the heating and cooling industry with its organic, solid-state refrigerant material. Known as barocaloric materials, these solids release and absorb heat at different pressures as they change volume, fundamentally raising the bar for efficiency.
Based on fifteen years of research, Barocal’s technology is ahead of the game. By replacing highly polluting gas refrigerants with solid refrigerants, Barocal’s new generation of heating and cooling technology can deliver up to three times the energy efficiency of traditional systems, while remaining safe and cost-effective.
The work on the materials began as a joint project between the University of Cambridge’s Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona. Professor Xavier Moya then spunout Barocal to develop cooling and heating systems.
“Barocal demonstrates how supporting motivated researchers with disruptive ideas can lead to technologies with potential to transform energy intensive systems and make a real impact on the climate crisis.”
Cambridge Enterprise supported the technology from an early stage, working with the academic team to protect intellectual property, assess potential markets and build the early-stage business plan, and also to develop Professor Moya’s commercial team, helping to establish the foundations for the company’s formation.
In 2022, the team secured a £1.3 million investment led by IP Group plc (now Kiko Ventures), which focuses on funding innovations to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Cambridge Enterprise participated in this funding of Barocal, which joined the growing sustainability portfolio and reinforced the University’s leadership on and commitment to net zero.
Barocal’s innovation has received international recognition since its inception, including being the sole European finalist in the Global Cooling Prize in 2019 and winning the $1 million gold TERA-Award in July 2025.
