Imagine a world where massive factories run on sunshine instead of burning fossil fuels. That is the ambitious future Radiant is building right now. The startup has just secured a vital €2 million investment to turn this vision into a reality. They have also joined forces with Hexa to tackle one of the biggest climate challenges we face today.
This funding marks a pivotal moment for industrial decarbonization. Radiant is moving fast to prove that solar power can generate the extreme heat needed for heavy manufacturing.
A Major Push for Green Factory Energy
Radiant was formerly known as Neamine. The company has now taken a massive leap forward by joining the Carbon Zero program run by Hexa. Hexa is a well known startup studio that builds high impact companies. This partnership comes with a fresh injection of €2 million in funding. The round included support from business angel networks Tiresias Angels and Selim Cherif.
This money is not just for keeping the lights on. It is specifically targeted at solving a dirty secret in the manufacturing world. Industrial heat is responsible for a staggering amount of global emissions.
The industrial sector consumes huge amounts of energy and 74 percent of that is just for producing heat.
Most of this heat currently comes from burning gas, coal or oil. Factories rely on these fuels because they are cheap and reliable. Renewables have struggled to compete on cost and consistency until now. Radiant plans to change this dynamic completely.
Thomas Delhon is the CEO of Radiant. He believes this solution offers a practical way out for heat intensive industries. He notes that companies can finally reduce emissions without seeing their energy bills skyrocket. This balance is crucial for businesses that operate on thin margins.
solar thermal industrial heat decarbonization system
Turning Sunlight into Extreme Heat
The technology behind this breakthrough is impressive and robust. Radiant has developed a specific solar thermal solution designed strictly for industrial needs. It does not use standard solar panels that you see on rooftops.
Instead the system uses next generation heliostats. These are smart mirrors that track the sun with high precision. They reflect concentrated sunlight onto a proprietary receiver. This process creates intense thermal energy.
The core technology builds on 15 years of deep research conducted at the German Aerospace Center.
This scientific foundation gives the project serious credibility. Alexandre Meurisse is the CTO of Radiant. He explained that their system can produce hot air at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. This is a critical threshold. Many industrial processes require heat far above what standard electric heaters can provide efficiently.
Here is a breakdown of what the Radiant system delivers:
- Temperature Range: Capable of reaching between 200°C and 1,000°C plus.
- Power Output: Flexible sizing from 2 megawatts up to 50 megawatts.
- Storage: Integrated thermal energy storage ensures heat is available even when the sun goes down.
- Control: High degree of operational control to match factory schedules.
This setup allows the system to act like a direct replacement for a gas burner. It plugs right into existing factory infrastructure. This ease of integration is key to widespread adoption.
Helping Heavy Industry Break Free from Gas
The target market for Radiant is vast and urgent. Industries like cement, glass, and asphalt production are under immense pressure to clean up. These sectors are often called “hard to abate” because they need such high temperatures.
Solar thermal energy offers a lifeline here. By replacing fossil fuel burners with solar heat, these companies can slash their carbon footprint instantly.
“We are providing a way to decarbonize that makes economic sense,” the team emphasized regarding their mission.
The interest from the market is already visible. Companies in the asphalt and glass sectors have expressed strong desire to test this solution. They want to apply it to their kilns and dryers. These are the hungriest energy consumers in their plants.
Economic competitiveness has always been the barrier. Low carbon heat solutions usually cost too much. Radiant aims to break this curse. Their system promises to be cost competitive with fossil fuels over time. This removes the financial penalty for going green.
Building the Future in Le Mans
The fresh funding will immediately go to work. Radiant is planning to construct its first industrial demonstrator in Le Mans. This is a critical step for any hardware startup.
The Le Mans site will serve as a proving ground. It will validate that the technology works at a meaningful scale. It will also show that the system can survive the rigors of an industrial environment.
Successful operation here will unlock the door to massive deployments across Europe.
The partnership with Hexa is also strategic. Hexa provides more than just money. Their Carbon Zero program offers operational support and expertise in scaling climate tech ventures. This ecosystem helps startups navigate the “valley of death” that often kills promising hardware companies.
Radiant plans to expand internationally once the pilot is proven. The global demand for green industrial heat is virtually limitless. Every factory that burns gas today is a potential customer for Radiant tomorrow.
The transition to clean industrial heat is no longer just a nice idea. It is a necessity for meeting global climate goals. With deep research roots and smart capital behind them, Radiant is well positioned to lead this charge.
