ENGIE, through its ENGIE New Ventures investment fund for start-ups that accelerate the energy transition, announces a strategic investment, alongside the Eren group, in ExerGo, a Swiss start-up that markets district heating and cooling network technology using CO₂ as a low-temperature-energy-carrier.

This operation is part of ENGIE’s Local Energy Infrastructure strategy to deploy more efficient, compact solutions that are compatible with the renewable resources available in the regions.

Through this investment, ENGIE and its partners seek to accelerate the industrialization and implementation of ExerGo’s technology, serving local authorities and real estate players wishing to decarbonize heating and cooling, particularly in dense urban areas.

CO₂ technology for lighter, more efficient and less intrusive networks

Founded in 2018, ExerGo has designed a unique system in which CO₂ replaces water to transport heat and cold at low temperatures. This thermal vector offers several significant advantages for urban projects:

• Small-diameter, lightweight and flexible pipes, limiting the footprint and the extent of roadworks;
• Optimized use of waste heat and local thermal resources: surface water, surface geothermal energy;
• Controlled investment and operating costs thanks to improved thermal performance.

These characteristics make this solution an ideal choice for high-density neighborhoods, areas with specific constraints, or projects requiring compact and scalable networks, while promoting the decarbonization of infrastructure.

A lever for creating value for local energy infrastructure activities

Through this investment via ENGIE New Ventures, ENGIE is strengthening its ability to:

• Offer more carbon-free heating and cooling infrastructure that is accessible and tailored to local requirements;
• Enhance its offering with technology that enables networks to be deployed in areas where conventional solutions are difficult to implement;
• Support local authorities, developers and property managers in building tailor-made energy trajectories, integrating several sources of renewable or recovered energy.

“ExerGo brings a technological breakthrough to heating and cooling networks by using CO₂ as an energy carrier. This innovative approach supports our decarbonization ambitions and paves the way for more efficient and sustainable solutions for our customers, particularly in the most constrained urban environments” stated Hervé-Matthieu Ricour-Dumas, Chief Business Development and Strategy Officer of ENGIE Local Energy Infrastructure.

“This investment perfectly illustrates our strategy as a venture capital investor, enabling us to better combine the expertise of ENGIE, a global leader in energy transition, with that of pioneering start-ups in this field,” said Johann Boukhors, Managing Director of ENGIE New Ventures.

“Since 2018, we have been committed to developing and showcasing the potential of CO₂ networks as an innovative, compact infrastructure solution for district heating and cooling projects. We are excited to welcome ENGIE New Ventures on board as a natural partner for ExerGo, given ENGIE’s strong commitment to accelerating the energy transition of the DHC industry”, added Alberto Mian, Co-Founder & CEO of ExerGo.

Press contacts

• ENGIE Local Energy Infrastructure: Alix Germain +33 7 64 44 74 36 – alix.germain@external.engie.com

• ExerGo : Communication team – hello@exergo.com

About ENGIE
ENGIE is a major player in the energy transition, whose purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. With 98,000 employees in 30 countries, the Group covers the entire energy value chain, from production to infrastructures and sales. ENGIE combines complementary activities: renewable electricity and green gas production, flexibility assets (notably batteries), gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks, local energy infrastructures (heating and cooling networks) and the supply of energy to individuals, local authorities and businesses. Every year, ENGIE invests more than €10 billion to drive forward the energy transition and achieve its net-zero carbon goal by 2045.

Turnover in 2024: €73.8 billion. The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Euro 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, Euronext Vigeo Eiris – Europe 120 / France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X).

About ENGIE New Ventures (ENV)
ENV is ENGIE’s Research & Innovation investment fund dedicated to innovative start-ups in the field of climate technology. ENV makes minority investments in innovative start-ups that bring strategic value to the Group, with a specific focus on future disruptive technologies. Since 2014, it has invested in over 50 solutions in the cleantech sector, mainly involving renewable energy, energy efficiency and lexibility solutions, and green gases including hydrogen. ENV is represented in Paris, San Francisco and Tel Aviv.

About ExerGo
ExerGo is a Swiss start-up specializing in the design, implementation and operation of district heating and cooling network solutions using CO₂ as a low-temperature energy carrier. Building on the success of a pilot installation that has been in operation for three years and a major project currently underway for the energy supplier Groupe E in Switzerland, the company is continuing to develop its portfolio in Switzerland and is preparing to expand into new international markets. For more information: http://www.exergo.com/

About EREN
The EREN Group, founded in 2011 by Pâris Mouratoglou and David Corchia, offers a wide range of solutions enabling the efficient use of natural resources. EREN is active in several sectors of the energy transition, including thermal management of buildings, low-carbon production (hydrogen, geothermal, biogas, biomethane, etc.), energy storage, waste treatment, and recovery of waste heat. https://www.eren-groupe.com/fr