Ionech raises £2m seed to pilot air-to-electricity cells in commercial fridges
This article covers Ionech, an Oxford-based energy startup, which has closed a £2m seed funding round to advance a device it says can generate electricity from ambient air. The cash will fund work to move the technology from laboratory experiments into real-world pilots targeting refrigeration, HVAC and data centre applications, affecting operators seeking lower energy consumption and reduced grid dependence.
Ionech, an Oxford-based energy startup, has closed a £2m seed funding round to advance a device it says can generate electricity from ambient air. The cash will fund work to move the technology from laboratory experiments into real-world pilots across energy-intensive equipment such as commercial fridges and ventilation systems.
Why it matters
Cooling and ventilation are major drivers of electricity demand globally. Ionech says integrating its device into commercial fridges, air conditioners and ventilation units could lower energy consumption and emissions in sectors that account for a significant share of overall power use. The company’s claim, if proven at scale, would be relevant to operators seeking to reduce running costs and grid dependence as heat and cooling demand rises across Europe.
Inside the product
Ionech describes its device as an Air Voltaic Cell. The company says the system uses high voltage pulses and field electron emission to produce superoxide ions and convert the thermal energy in ambient air into electricity. That is a compact summary of a more complex physical and chemical process; the firm is now focused on validating performance and durability outside the lab.
Planned application targets include refrigeration and HVAC equipment and data centres, all of which have high continuous power requirements. Ionech has started partnership projects to test integration, notably with Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners, where the focus is on reducing the carbon footprint of drinks coolers.
Who are the investors?
Ionech raised £2m in a seed funding round that combines private capital and public support. The equity investment came from Elbow Beach and the round is complemented by a grant from Innovate UK, the government innovation agency. The public grant suggests the technology has met eligibility criteria for early-stage innovation funding, while the private backing will finance pilot deployments.
In the announcement, Jonathan Pollock, chief executive of Elbow Beach, said:
Energy demand is growing, driven by among other things, cooling systems and AI.
Ionech is developing ways to harness clean energy from ambient air. Their Air Voltaic Cell technology has the potential to reduce reliance on the grid, lower energy consumption, and deliver tangible benefits across the real economy. We are excited to partner with Ionech as they advance their technology to market.
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Founder perspective
The funding is framed by Ionech as the bridge from lab research to operational pilots and commercial integration. The company intends initial trials with CCEP’s cooler fleet and broader demonstrations in HVAC and data centre settings.
In the announcement, Nathan Owen, co-founder and managing director of Ionech, said:
We are partnering with Elbow Beach to advance the development of our Air Voltaic Cell technology.
Their investment enables the transition from lab-scale development to real-world pilots, including initial work with CCEP’s cooler fleet.
It also accelerates our route to market and deployment across energy‑intensive applications, such as HVAC and data centres, with the potential to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and reliance on the grid at scale.
The bigger picture
The deal fits a wider pattern of UK energy innovation where public grants and strategic private investment are used to derisk hardware and materials technologies before large-scale manufacturing decisions. Testing in commercial refrigeration is a pragmatic first step because the asset base is large and performance can be monitored against clear baselines.
There remain open questions around lifetime performance, cost per watt delivered, maintenance requirements and regulatory approvals. Demonstrations with partners such as CCEP will be important to move from proof of concept to credible deployment cases that buyers can evaluate.
This funding round highlights continued interest in energy startups across the UK and Europe that promise incremental gains in efficiency and new ways to manage demand. If Ionech’s pilots produce reproducible results, the technology could attract further industrial partners and larger follow‑on funding as the market for decarbonising cooling and infrastructure grows.
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