Cambridge Spin-Out Secures Seed Funding
Barocal just pulled in $10 million in seed money, with support from World Fund, Breakthrough Energy Discovery, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, and IP Group. This climate tech startup out of Cambridge just landed some cash, and they’re not wasting any time. They’re putting it straight into scaling up and pushing their systems forward, faster than ever.
So what makes them different? They’re turning the whole heating and cooling game on its head. Forget about those standard refrigerant gases—those polluting, high-global-warming culprits. Instead, they’re using solid-state materials. Squeeze them, and they either heat up or cool down. No bad emissions, no mess, just a clever fix for a pretty big problem.
Professor Xavier Moya founded Barocal back in 2019 after years of digging into caloric materials at Cambridge. Now, they’re all in on building thermal systems that run cleaner and work better—and they’re determined to get their tech out into the real world.
Solid-State Technology Targets Global Cooling Demand
Barocal develops barocaloric materials that heat and cool under pressure. These materials undergo phase transitions when force is applied. This creates temperature changes without gas-based refrigeration cycles.
Traditional systems rely on vapour compression. These systems use refrigerant gases linked to climate damage. Barocal’s approach removes these gases entirely. It also aims to improve energy efficiency across multiple sectors.
The company plans to target data centre cooling first. It also focuses on commercial refrigeration and building systems. These sectors represent large and growing global demand. The HVAC market is valued at around $450 billion and is expected to rise to $577 billion by 2033.
Cooling demand continues to grow globally. It is expected to triple by 2050. Heating and cooling already account for a major share of emissions. The sector contributes around 15% of global greenhouse gases.
Cooling alone produced more than 4 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2022. Barocal says its system can reduce energy use significantly. It also removes the need for refrigerant gases. This could reduce emissions at scale across infrastructure systems.
Research Breakthrough Moves Toward Commercial Scale
Barocal advances pressure-driven thermal technology from research to scalable, durable systems for next-generation climate solutions. Source: Created by Ventureburn
The technology is based on research led by Professor Xavier Moya. He founded Barocal after years of academic work funded by the Royal Society and the European Research Council. His team discovered how pressure-driven materials could create strong thermal effects.
Many previous materials faced issues such as fatigue or cost limits. Barocal’s approach claims to overcome these challenges. The company has developed and patented a full heating and cooling platform. It is designed for long-term durability and industrial use.
Barocal has already gained recognition in the climate tech space. It won the $1 million 2025 TERA-Award. The company says this validates its engineering progress and commercial potential.
The new funding will support hiring across technical and commercial roles. It will also accelerate system engineering and product development. The goal is to move toward full-scale commercial deployment.
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Investors Back Decarbonisation of Heating And Cooling
Investors say Barocal is addressing a major global emissions challenge. Heating and cooling systems remain one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. They are deeply embedded in buildings, industry, and infrastructure.
World Fund described Barocal as a major materials breakthrough. It said the technology could compete with established vapour-based systems. It also highlighted its potential to transform global thermal infrastructure.
Breakthrough Energy Discovery first supported Barocal through its Fellows programme. It said the company stood out due to its scientific depth and commercial readiness. It believes the platform can replace traditional cooling systems with cleaner alternatives.
IP Group also invested in the round. It contributed £2 million to support scaling efforts. The firm said Barocal could deliver major efficiency gains in data centres, refrigeration, and home cooling systems. It described the company as a transformational deep tech opportunity.
Barocal believes its technology is critical to climate targets. Heating and cooling emissions must fall significantly to meet global goals. The company argues that solving this sector could play a major role in achieving a 1.5°C pathway.
Professor Xavier Moya said the system could reshape global emissions. He highlighted the urgency of reducing heating and cooling impact. He also said the company is focused on commercialisation at scale.
Barocal is now preparing for the next phase of growth. It aims to expand engineering teams and move closer to deployment. The company says its goal is to deliver a new global standard for cooling and heating systems.
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