Efficient Energy GmbH is a German manufacturer and developer of environmentally friendly refrigeration technology. Founded in 2006, the company currently employs around 70 people located in the Greater Munich area. The medium-sized company operates across Europe, provides pioneering work in clean cooling solutions with the Bluezero® technology, which makes use of water as a refrigerant. The company has received several awards for the eChiller, such as the European Business Award for the Environment 2018/2019, Red Herring Europe Top 100 2020 and the Technology Fast 50 Award 2021.
Interview with Thomas Bartmann, Sales Director / Member of the Board of Efficient Energy
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and its activities.
Thomas Bartmann: We are a clean tech pioneer of sustainable refrigeration solutions using water as a refrigerant. Our eChiller product series centres on the Bluezero® technology, which makes use of water as the climate-neutral refrigerant. Worldwide we are the only provider of series chillers using 100% climate neutral water (R718) as a refrigerant, thereby eliminating the need for environmentally harmful F-gases.
E.E: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
T.B: We help our customers to master the increasing regulatory challenges of the refrigeration market, such as CO2 footprint, cost and energy efficiency, F-gas regulation and price increases to an unprecedented level due to rising safety standard requirements. The technology is ideally suited for cooling data centres and server rooms, industrial processes and machinery, as well as for use in technical air conditioning in offices and industrial halls.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
T.B: In 2021, we launched the eChiller120 with a cooling capacity of 120kw, in a bundle up to 1.000kW. Over the last four years, we have succeeded in establishing our clean cooling refrigeration solutions and experienced a further market boost with the launch of the eChiller120. We are therefore currently planning to expand our product range to serve even more IT and industrial applications.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
T.B: The eChiller family contains the success model eChiller35/45 providing up to 45kW cooling capacity and his recently launched bigger brother, the eChiller120. Furthermore, we provide our Bluezero® technology also as OEM solution.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
T.B: The refrigerant market is currently undergoing a huge transformation. With the goal of cutting CO2 emissions, the EU enacted the F-Gas regulation which will drastically restrict the use of traditional, hydrofluorocarbon-based refrigerants in the near future, forcing operators of such systems to fundamentally rethink their future proof cooling strategies.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
T.B: The phase down scenario driven by the EU will gradually reduce the use of traditional, environmental harmful HFC refrigerants down to 21 % by 2030. So, 80% of the refrigerants will be then definitely climate friendly cooling solutions. We experienced this rising demand for clean cooling solutions in 2021 as part of operator´s corporate climate neutral strategies, especially in Europe as the leading market.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
T.B: With the view on the strategic approach creating climate friendly industries, it is vital to set new standards with energy efficient products as smart and integrative part in the corporate energy concept and management ideally closing the circle of producing, using and recycling energy.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2022?
T.B: Regarding our growths path over the last four years, we are looking forward to expand our partner network across Europe and another year of highly inventive products helping our customers to be one-step ahead with future proof climate friendly cooling solutions.
Thomas Bartmann,
Sales Director / Member of the Board