Inergio, a spin-off from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Haute école d’ingénierie et de gestion du canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD), has taken on the mission of addressing the challenge of off-grid power supply by developing a new, innovative generation of miniaturized, efficient, and environmentally friendly fuel cells.
Access to Electricity: an Environmental Challenge
Electricity needs are increasing, and access to the power grid may seem commonplace today. But what about areas not connected to the grid, during power outages, or when the grid is unreliable? In such cases, it becomes necessary to use an autonomous generator to supply electricity. However, current solutions, such as diesel generators, batteries, or solar panels, come with numerous issues, from size to reliability, and, of course, their environmental impact. In this context, fuel cells are viewed as a promising solution for reliable power with a low environmental footprint.
Inergio, as a spin-off from EPFL and HEIG-VD, is innovating in the off-grid power supply domain with a new generation of fuel cells. "When designing fuel cells, many aspects need to be considered, explains Mahmoud Hadad, CEO of Inergio. It’s essential to have a comprehensive view, from customer needs to environmental impact, to provide a tailored and sustainable solution." Indeed, to produce electricity, factors such as the fuel cell size, the current delivered, customer implementation challenges, and maintenance costs must be taken into account. Inergio’s fuel cells, based on solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, allow for multiple fuel types, adapting to current options while preparing for the renewable energies of tomorrow. Compact in size, they produce reliable power with low maintenance costs and offer a turnkey solution for local, off-grid green electricity production (remote locations, backup power, etc.).
Fifteen Years of Research and Passion
Inergio is now ready to enter the market with three products, after fifteen years of research, passion, and overcoming numerous challenges. From developing the technology to refining the product and deploying it with initial clients, the start-up has relied on three financial supports — two from Innosuisse and one from Eurostars — which helped it clear critical milestones.
Public financial support is essential for the development of a start-up, and anyone looking to get started should undoubtedly seek out available aid, such as coaching from Alliance.
During his doctoral studies, Mahmoud Hadad discovered Alliance, as his professors sought support from the platform for several Innosuisse projects. Familiar with the innovation ecosystem, Mahmoud Hadad naturally turned to Alliance for a first Innosuisse project without an implementation partner (WIP). He met Philippe Nasch, innovation mentor, during the second project, a successful Eurostars initiative. Their collaboration continued for a third project, an Innosuisse Start-up Innovation Project (SIP).
Securing Funding
For this SIP, Mahmoud Hadad begins with a meeting with Philippe Nasch, to assess the project's potential and its eligibility for Innosuisse funding. Inergio's CEO is well aware of the workload involved in preparing the dossier, and awaits the positive opinion of his innovation advisor before embarking on the drafting process. The first draft is then forwarded to Philippe Nasch, whose comments and remarks help to improve the drafting and clarify certain sections. Finally, the final version is submitted one last time to the Alliance advisor to determine whether the dossier is ready for submission. "We particularly appreciated Philippe's availability: he was always ready to devote time to us, and to suggest ways of improving our dossier," explains Mahmoud Hadad. The application was accepted and Mahmoud Hadad was invited to pitch his project. Once again, he called on Philippe Nasch to organize the pitch. The pitch was a success, and Inergio received the funding it needed to launch the first products on the market.
The Energy Ecosystem of Tomorrow
“We have a scalable technology that meets client needs and demands. The question now is whether we can enter production and meet market demands. The SIP funding is perfect for testing this,” says Mahmoud Hadad. The start-up aims to establish itself among the market leaders in the long term. Acknowledging that there won’t be a single energy source in the future, Inergio anticipates that its innovative fuel cells will play a significant role in the off-grid green electricity supply ecosystem.
Inergio at a Glance
Foundation: 2020
Headquarters: EPFL Innovation Park, Renens
Team: 8 people. Inergio is planning to expand to 10-15 people by 2025.
Website: inergio.ch