Pascal Raises $8.5M to Develop Solid-State Refrigerant for 20% More Efficient Cooling

Funding for Solid-State Cooling

Pascal, a startup co-founded by Adam Slavney and Jinyoung Seo, recently closed an $8.5 million follow-on to its seed funding round. Sazze Partners and LB Investment co-led the investment, with KDB Silicon Valley also participating. This funding will support the development and deployment of Pascal's solid-state refrigerant technology.

Increased Efficiency and Environmental Benefits

Pascal's new material is projected to make refrigerators and heat pumps about 20% more efficient than current models. The technology utilizes solid-state refrigerants, which eliminate the atmospheric release issues associated with traditional gaseous refrigerants like Freon and R-134a, addressing climate and ozone concerns.

Solid-state refrigerants function by releasing heat when compressed and absorbing it when pressure is released, similar to conventional refrigerants but without the environmental drawbacks of gas leaks.

Pilot Program and Future Plans

The company has secured a contract with a multinational beverage company for a pilot program of its technology. Pascal aims to deliver its first prototype early next year, with a goal of producing more refined refrigerators by 2028. The customer contract was a key factor in the timing of the recent funding round.

Addressing Long-Standing Refrigerant Challenges

The cooling industry has long sought more efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerants. Traditional refrigerants have faced issues ranging from ozone depletion (Freon) to being potent greenhouse gases (R-134a). Pascal's solid-state approach offers a potential solution to these persistent environmental challenges by preventing refrigerant escape into the atmosphere.